The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will elect its new president and other office-bearers in the first week of November. A notification in this regard is likely to be issued by the Centre in a day or two.
The Punjab Government tonight wrote to the Union Home Ministry to fix the date for convening the SGPC House at the earliest. Sources said the House could be summoned on November 5 and the SGPC president and other office-bearers elected then.
The Akalis holds the majority in the SGPC House, elections to which were held in 2011. With the SGPC House becoming functional ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab, the SAD is expected to consolidate its Panthic vote base. The party’s core committee discussed the issue at length tonight.
There is talk of senior Akali leader Sewa Singh Sekhwan replacing the incumbent SGPC president, Avtar Singh Makkar. Many within the party want to see a new candidate, especially in the wake of the incidents of sacrilege since last year, which they believe has hit the image of the party as well as the SGPC.
The Supreme Court had on September 15 disposed of an SGPC petition against the Sehajdhari Sikhs’ right to vote in the committee polls with the case becoming irrelevant following a new Central law.
Once the notification is issued, the 170-member House (some have passed away) will elect the new chief and other office-bearers.
The Punjab Government tonight wrote to the Union Home Ministry to fix the date for convening the SGPC House at the earliest. Sources said the House could be summoned on November 5 and the SGPC president and other office-bearers elected then.
The Akalis holds the majority in the SGPC House, elections to which were held in 2011. With the SGPC House becoming functional ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab, the SAD is expected to consolidate its Panthic vote base. The party’s core committee discussed the issue at length tonight.
There is talk of senior Akali leader Sewa Singh Sekhwan replacing the incumbent SGPC president, Avtar Singh Makkar. Many within the party want to see a new candidate, especially in the wake of the incidents of sacrilege since last year, which they believe has hit the image of the party as well as the SGPC.
The Supreme Court had on September 15 disposed of an SGPC petition against the Sehajdhari Sikhs’ right to vote in the committee polls with the case becoming irrelevant following a new Central law.
Once the notification is issued, the 170-member House (some have passed away) will elect the new chief and other office-bearers.
