Intense lobbying begins after govt notification on gurdwara panel
After the formation of rules for co-opting nine additional members of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), intense lobbying has begun to lead the committee as president and office-bearers.
The government recently notified the rules for co-opting nine members, nearly three months after the HSGMC elections. The Gurdwara Election Commission, headed by Justice (retd) HS Bhalla, will soon convene a meeting to formalise the co-option process, after which the oath-taking process will be conducted, and the officer-bearers and president elected.
In the elections held on January 19, members of the Sikh community directly elected HSGMC members, resulting in a fractured mandate: 22 independents, nine from Panthak Dal (Jhinda), six from the SAD-aligned Haryana Sikh Panthak Dal, and three from the Sikh Samaj Sanstha, led by Didar Singh Nalvi.
After the results, 19 independents joined hands under the banner of the Akal Panthak Morcha and allied with six members of the Sikh Panthak Dal, forming a dominant bloc of 25. However, over the past three months, the Akal Panthak Morcha has been reduced to 11 members. With support from six Sikh Panthak Dal members, the group now holds 18 members. “Since my two members have left and I have extended support to the joint alliance of the Akal Panthak Morcha and Sikh Panthak Dal, I will go with the decision of the joint group,” said Nalvi, welcoming the norms.
Welcoming the notification, Jhinda, former president and a member of the committee, said: “When the community members asked us, we did not have any reply," adding that they were in touch with the members and would take a final call after the oath-taking ceremony.
Prakash Singh Sahuwal, an independent member from Nathusari Chopta and a key figure in the Akal Panthak Morcha, said they had the support of 18 members and more were in touch.
Baldev Singh Kaimpur, president, Haryana Sikh Panthak Dal, said they had supported the Akal Panthak Morcha.
Haryana Tribune