SGPC annual elections litmus test for Akali Dal

It will be a challenging task for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to maintain its supremacy during annual elections of office-bearers of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) as the party faces existential crisis.

Today, Akal Takht did not grant relief to SAD president Sukhbir Badal, who had been declared “tankhaiya”. Thus, barring him from indulging in any poll related activity till the five high priests pronounce him “tankhah” (religious punishment) and he completes it successfully.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has announced to convene the General House session for the annual elections of the president, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary and members of the executive committee on October 28.

The SGPC’s first woman president Jagir Kaur, who headed the Sikh body multiple times, is again in the fray. Besides, traditional opposition members, she has additional support of “rebel” Akalis of SAD (Sudhar Lehar).

“We have come with an agenda of setting free the SGPC from the clutches of existing SAD sponsored coterie,” said Jagir, adding that they would get more than ‘double’ seats bagged during the 2022 poll.

In 2022, the SAD survived a scare by getting its candidate Dhami re-elected to the president’s post with 104 votes, while Jagir managed to get 42 votes. In the past, the opposition candidates haven’t got more than 20 votes.

At present, the House has close to 145 members who will participate in the upcoming poll. Generally, the SGPC House consists of 191 members. This includes 170 elected who have the voting rights. The other 15 are cop-opted besides five Takht Jathedars and a head granthi of the Golden Temple.

Jagir said, “Majority of the SGPC members were not going to accept the candidate of a party whose president was declared ‘tankhaiya’ by Akal Takht. Moreover, Takht has now barred him from participating in poll activities.”

She claimed that voices were also being raised against existing SGPC body that had failed to obey Akal Takht’s orders, be it “vague” clarification over Rs 91 lakh spent on advertisements to justifying the pardon granted to Dera Sirsa cult in 2015 or failing to start the SGPC’s own channel, besides misappropriation of “saroops” and funds.

“Lately, Dhami did not respond promptly to Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh’s mental agony and his resignation, but woke up only after Akal Takht Jathedar and other Jathedars’ revolted against this episode. Akal Takht had ordered SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder to expel Virsa Singh Valtoha for 10 years from the party, but instead of compliance of orders, Valtoha was made to submit resignation. All these manipulations and lapses would cost dear to the Akali Dal in the Sikh body elections.”