Sgpc Poll: Efforts Afoot To Form Front Against Akalis

[Azaad]

With the Gurdwara Election Commission hinting at the possibility of the SGPC polls in September, political activity among panthic outfits is likely to gain momentum in the coming days.

While the SAD has been ruling the roost in the SGPC ever since its inception, this time some political outfits led by the chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and SAD (Delhi), Paramjit Singh Sarna, are trying to consolidate opposition groups under a single front. Moderate groups like the SAD (Longowal) and the SAD (1920) have already forged an alliance with the SAD (Delhi) for the SGPC elections. These outfits are now looking forward to further strengthening their front by roping in hardliners. It would not be an easy task as the hardliners are already a house divided. On the one hand there are radical Sikh outfits like the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC), the Dal Khalsa and the SAD (Panch Pardhani), while on the other is SAD (Amritsar) led by Simranjit Singh Mann.

Talking to The Tribune, Sarna said they would not enter into a poll agreement with any group that talked about Khalistan. “We have been in touch with other groups in the past and now we will initiate a fresh round of talks to reach an electoral understanding with them”, he said. Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh did not rule out the possibility of their group aligning with the moderates. “We may come together to form a formidable front against the SAD and if we cannot enter into a tie-up with them we might go for a seat-sharing arrangement with them,” he added. According to him, the ruling SAD would like to see a triangular fight in the SGPC polls as it would work to its advantage. “The SAD would do everything possible to ensure that a consolidated front is not formed against it,” he averred.

The All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) Chief Karnail Singh Peermohammed said they will join the front formed by the SAD (Delhi) only if the SAD (Amritsar) is also brought into it. He said he will act as a bridge between the moderates and the hardliners..

SAD leader Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema said, “As always, we know the Congress will be contesting the SGPC elections indirectly. However, we are not concerned, as the Sikhs have always rejected those having Congress support.” He alleged that the Congress first tried to delay the SGPC polls and now it would contest the elections through proxy groups. “The people will vote for SAD as they have faith in us,” he said.

The SAD had swept the last SGPC elections held in July 2004, by winning 134 seats out of the 167 on which polling was conducted. There are a total of 170 SGPC members. Apart from them, 15 members are nominated to the committee, while five Sikh highpriests and the head priest of the Golden Temple are ex-officio members.

[Inqlabi]

I am for Mann group and i would like to see Khalsa Action Committee sharing seats with them.

Sarna, Logowal and 1920 are good for nothing.

Where is so called Sant Samaj ?

[zoltansingh]

Where is so called Sant Samaj ?

Dhumma is very close to the Badals these days. He quickly forgot all he said in interviews after the Ludhiana shootings about contesting elections and teaching the Badals a lesson.