SGPC poll today, SAD fields Harjinder Singh Dhami again for top post

A keen contest is on the cards in the annual election to the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday as the Shiromani Akali Dali (SAD) on Sunday once again nominated Harjinder Singh Dhami as its candidate for the post of the committee president and the breakaway Akali faction also decided to participate in the election.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal made the official announcement of Dhami's candidature. After a meeting with SGPC members for the annual election of the office-bearers of the committee, Dhami thanked the Guru Sahib and Sukhbir for reposing faith in him.

SGPC members will elect their president, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary and 11 executive committee members in the annual election which will be held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall, headquarters of the organisation, in the Sri Harmandir Sahib complex in Amritsar.

This time, the SAD breakaway faction has also decided to contest the SGPC annual election. The decision was taken after former Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh held a meeting with the faction's senior leadership, working committee and SGPC members. On the presidential candidate, Giani Harpreet Singh said the SGPC members associated with his party would decide who would contest the election. The Akali faction has two former SGPC presidents -- Bibi Jagir Kaur and Gobind Singh Longowal -- in its ranks.

The outcome of the SGPC’s annual election is likely to cast its impact on the ensuing Tarn Taran assembly byelection. The annual election also assumes importance as it is taking place just weeks ahead of a number of programmes chalked out to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur.

Last year, Dhami convincingly defeated his opponent Bibi Jagir Kaur. Raghujit Singh Virk was elected senior vice-president. Baldev Singh Kalyan and Sher Singh were elected junior vice-president and general secretary, respectively.

As per the Gurdwara Act, 1925, the SGPC body has to be revamped every year by electing its president, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary and 15-member executive body, unanimously or through voting in the general house, if necessary.

Generally, the House consists of a total of 185 members, including the 15 co-opted members. At present, the House has 148 members. As many as 31 members have died, while four others have already resigned from the membership and two half lost the voting rights. Five Takht Jathedars and the Golden Temple head granthi are also counted in the House, separately, but they have no voting right.