Baljeet Singh Daduwal elected HSGMC ad hoc president

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 13

Baljeet Singh Daduwal, supported by senior vice president Didar Singh Nalvi, was elected president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC ad hoc) on Thursday.

The election went peacefully in the historic Chhevin-Nauvin Patshahi Gurdwara, Cheeka, Kaithal, on Thursday.

In a cut-throat election, he defeated Jagbir Singh Khalsa, who was supported by former president Jagdish Singh Jhinda, with only two votes. Election Officer Darshan Singh Barari confirmed the result and said Daduwal had been declared the winner.

The Election Officer added that as many as 36 members were eligible for voting.

Of the 36 votes, Daduwal got 19 votes while Khalsa received 17 votes.

Nalvi congratulated the newly elected president and said they would strongly contest the case of a separate committee in the Apex Court. Daduwal said he would make efforts to promote Punjabi language across the state.

The election process was stopped for an hour when Daduwal filed a complaint to district authorities against the election officer of being biased. Daduwal raised questions over the validation of four votes, saying three persons have already joined the SGPC and one member has not joined any meeting. Later, at around 2.40 pm, the election process was started.

Kaithal SP Shashank Kumar Sawan, along with heavy police force, remained there to maintain the law and order situation.

SDM Kaithal and SDM Cheeka were also appointed there for conducting election peacefully.