Giani Harpreet in saddle, rebel Akali faction faces Tarn Taran, SGPC challenge
Shiromani Akali Dal
(SAD) will face two challenges in the foreseeable future— the Tarn Taran assembly seat bypoll and elections to the cash-rich Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
The Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD has already announced Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa as its candidate from Tarn Taran. With this, Badal is hoping to have a head start over others in the electoral contest. However, the rebel group could divide Panthic votes in the bypoll, especially due to Giani Harpreet Singh's background as a former jathedar of Akal Takht. "The division of votes could pose a serious challenge to the Badal-led SAD," said Ravinder Singh, an Amritsar resident who follows Panthic politics closely.
"The Harpreet Singh-led faction could benefit from its stronger standing in religious circles."
The rebel SAD faction is yet to announce if it will contest the byelection. When contacted, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is a key figure in the rebel Akali camp, said, "The party president will take the final decision."
Echoing this, rebel Akali delegate Jasbir Ghumman said the faction president was yet to form athe core committee and executive body.
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"Only then will these decisions be made," said Ghumman.
Sikh scholar Ravinder Singh said SGPC elections will be the real litmus test for the breakaway faction.
The Union home ministry recently chose not to extend the term of Justice S S Saron (retd), who was serving as the chief commissioner for Gurdwara elections. The delay in announcing SGPC elections is seen by many as a strategic move, especially in the wake of the rising influence of radical Sikh figures like Amritpal Singh.
"After Amritpal's elevation, there was concern that Khalistani-leaning elements might gain control of SGPC," he said.
Ravinder Singh added the central govt may be waiting to assess the influence of the rebel faction in Punjab's rural belt. "A clearer picture may prompt Centre to schedule SGPC elections before the 2027 assembly polls," Ravinder said.
Ghuman added the rebel group will set up its head office in Amritsar, with a sub-office in Chandigarh.
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