SGPC presidential election: Voting in General House Session for chief post underway
SGPC poll today: In the forthcoming annual elections of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, the incumbent SGPC president, will be the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate for the top post. These elections are scheduled for Wednesday, marking Dhami's third consecutive candidacy for the position. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of the SAD, made the announcement and emphasised the unanimous support from SGPC members for Dhami's re-nomination.
Dhami had previously been elected as the SGPC president in both 2021 and 2022. During the 2022 election, he secured a victory by defeating the former three-time president, Jagir Kaur. The unanimous support from SGPC members stems from Dhami's steadfast commitment to panthic values and the defense of panthic institutions during his tenure. The SAD believes that he will continue to lead the SGPC effectively.
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In response to the opposition's choice of Balbir Singh Ghunas as its candidate against Dhami, Badal accused Ghunas of aligning with anti-Sikh forces. Despite the opposition's efforts, the SAD expressed confidence in overcoming rival forces, as they had done in the previous year's election.
In addition to the top post, the SGPC elections will include voting for the senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary, and an 11-member executive committee, all taking place simultaneously. With this announcement, Dhami expressed his gratitude and commitment to the role, thanking the SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and all SGPC members. Ghunas, a former SAD member, now contesting against Dhami, has received support from some SGPC members.
However, the election dynamics within the SGPC are complex, involving elected members, co-opted members, and Sikh temporal seat heads. As the SGPC general elections have not been conducted for the past 12 years, the composition of the general house has experienced changes over time due to member attrition and resignations.
Registration of Voters - October 21, 2023 – November 15, 2023
Preparation of Manuscripts of Roll, its printing and placement at the centres for preliminary publication – November 16, 2023 to December 4, 2023
Publication of Preliminary Roll by the Deputy Commissioner – December 5, 2023
Notice by the Deputy Commissioner giving Names & Designations, or in case of officials, designations only, and the addresses, of the revising authorities to whom claims & objections relating to the Roll may be presented – December 5, 2023
Last date for receipt of Claims & Objections – December 26, 2023
Last date of disposal of Claims & Objections and communication of decisions by the Revising Authority thereon to the Deputy Commissioners under rule 10(3) of the Sikh Gurudwaras Board Election Rules, 1959 – January 4, 2024
Preparation of manuscript of the Supplementary Roll and printing of Supplements – January 15, 2024
Notably, the SGPC’s house comprises of 191 members out of which 170 members are elected by Sikh voters in general elections, 15 are co-opted, five are sitting (jathedars) heads of Sikh temporal seats, and one is the head granthi (priest) of the Golden Temple.
The SGPC's officers, which include the president, senior vice president, junior vice president, general secretary, and 11 members of the executive committee, are elected by the general house for a one-year term.
- With inputs from agencies
