Blind adherents to Polish leader and craftsmen (9)

'blind adherents' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'polish leader and craftsmen' is the wordplay.
'polish leader' becomes 'p' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'craftsmen' becomes 'artisans' ('artisan' can be a synonym of 'craftsman').
'p'+'artisans'='PARTISANS'

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?