Amritsar, November 19
Even as the re-election of a veteran Akali leader, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra is almost certain, loyalists to Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Tohra seemed divided over the nomination of Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur as Senior Vice-President, replacing Mr Alwinder Pal Singh Pakhoke, a close confidant of Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, a former Cooperation Minister.

Though senior Akali leaders, including Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, both former Presidents of SGPC, had given their consent over the re-election of Mr Tohra, yet they had reportedly opposed any move to appoint Mr Bhaur as Senior Vice-President. Interestingly, when Mr Badal had called a meeting of SGPC members in the Teja Singh Samundari Hall today to know their mind over the annual election of SGPC, slated for tomorrow, the Tohra and Badal loyalists, both entered the meeting hall separately. Today’s day-long meeting had given clear indications that the rapproachment between Mr Tohra and Mr Badal had not yet percolated at the grass-roots level of the Akali Dal, especially at the SGPC level.

Interestingly at the outset of the meeting, Mr Badal had announced that the Political Affairs Committee of the party had authorised him to nominate the office-bearers of SGPC yet he wanted to take SGPC members into confidence. On this many members raised their hands and authorised Mr Badal, while many members including Bibi Jagir Kaur, did not raise their hands which indicated that all was not well within the SAD as far as the election of Senior Vice-President was concerned. On the other hand, Mr Bhaur had already given a statement that he was not in the race for the election of Senior Vice-President.

Those who met Mr Badal at the Circuit House after the meeting included Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Mr Badungar and Mr Pakhoke.

Despite repeated queries, Mr Badal said that he would not disclose the names of the persons to be nominated as office-bearers. So much so Mr Badal did not entertain any question when asked whether the re-election of Mr Tohra as SGPC was a foregone conclusion. However, he said the sentiments of all members would be taken care of while announcing the names.