89 candidates file nominations for HSGMC elections in Karnal, Kaithal, K'shetra

As many as 89 candidates have filed nomination papers for the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) elections in Karnal, Kaithal and Kurukshetra districts. While 29 nominations were submitted for four wards in Karnal district, 20 were filed for three wards in Kaithal district and 40 nominations were filed for five wards in Kurukshetra district. The scrutiny of the nomination papers will take place on December 30, with a re-examination of referred nominations on January 1.

District-wise breakdown

Karnal Nominations

Ward-16 (Nilokheri): 5

Ward-17 (Nissing): 8

Ward-18 (Assandh): 8

Ward-19 (Karnal): 8

Kaithal Nominations

Ward-20 (Guhla) 7

Ward-21 (Kangthali) 7

Ward-22 (Kaithal) 6

Kurukshetra Nominations

Ward 13 10

Ward 14 10

Ward 12 9

Ward 15 6

Ward 11 5

Candidates can withdraw their nominations up to 3 pm on January 2, after which election symbols will be allotted and the final list of valid nominations, along with polling station details, will be released. Voting will be held on January 19 from 8 am to 5 pm and the results will be declared the same day.

Additionally, new voter inclusion applications for HSGMC general elections will be accepted until January 10, 2025. Officials have been assigned to oversee this process.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Sikh Ekta Dal has written to Justice (retd) HS Bhalla, Commissioner of the Gurdwara Election Commission, urging strict enforcement of the election code of conduct. They accused the current HSGMC of misusing resources, staff and funds to influence the election outcome.

The letter, signed by representatives Pritpal Singh Pannu, Jagdeep Singh Aulakh and Gurtej Singh Khalsa, requested a two-day extension for filing nominations, citing the observance of Martyrdom Week. The group highlighted past instances of similar extensions during Assembly elections.

The Ekta Dal also raised concerns about alleged financial irregularities and misuse of grants by the current committee, backdoor appointments and large-scale grants distributed in the past two months and membership camps being organised during the poll code period to promote candidates.

They demanded a high-level investigation and a comprehensive audit of the committee’s accounts, which have not been audited for two years. Furthermore, the Dal requested restrictions on the ad hoc committee from undertaking major operations until the elections are concluded.

"The election code of conduct should be strictly enforced to ensure free and fair elections," the group emphasised in its letter.