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Badungar may step down today
Tohra man Calcutta may step in
R. Suryamurthy
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 14
The SGPC president, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, is likely to step down from his post tomorrow, highly-placed sources said today.

The SGPC may publicly announce his decision at akhand path in Manji Sahib or soon after at a closed-door meeting of Akali leaders, including Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

The sources, however, stated that the formal process of Mr Badungar’s relinquishing office would take some time as the SGPC chief’s decision would have to be placed before the general council for clearance.

The confidant of Mr Tohra and former General Secretary of the SAD, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, was likely to replace Mr Badungar. The SGPC chief, who was earlier the officer on special duty to Mr Badal, had been on the post for more than two years.

The proposed stepping down of the SGPC chief was part of the ‘deal’ worked out between the two faction leaders before the unification of the SAD.

The sources said Mr Tohra would have control over the SGPC, which he headed as an undisputed leader for over two decades, while SAD President, Badal would control the affairs of the party.

Even Mr Badal had indicated that Mr Tohra would be given a free hand in controlling the affairs of the SGPC.

Several of the leaders, who walked out of the SAD to the SHSAD, would be accommodated in the SAD at senior positions and in the political affairs committees.

The veteran Akali leaders would hold discussions on the issue of revamping the party by accommodating new members after the July 16 meeting.

After the reorganisation of the party, the SAD would intensify its mass contact programme and prepare its strategy to fight the Lok Sabha poll.