Makkar all set to get second term as SGPC chief

Amritsar, Nov 24 (UNI) With the front runners backing out, Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is all set to get a second term as Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president.

The elections of the office bearers of the SGPC and the 11-member executive will be held at Teja Singh Samundri hall in the Golden Temple complex here tomorrow. The office bearers include the President, senior Vice President, junior Vice President and the General Secretary.

With the SAD led by former Cchief Mminister Prakash Singh Badal commanding a 'brute' majority in the 190-member SGPC general house, including the five Sikh High Priests (Takht Jathedars), the elections are expected to be a mere formality. Presently out of the 181 members excluding the High Priests the Badal faction has the support of 154 members, with the remaining aligned with the SAD (Amritsar) and other 'Panthic' factions opposed to the SAD (Badal).

The front runners for the prestigious post including former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and former ministers Suchha Singh Langah and Sewa Singh Sekhwan have chosen to opt out of the race in view of the assembly polls which are due next year. All three belonging to the SAD (Badal) will be contesting the polls and if the SAD-BJP alliance is voted to power, then they will be eyeing ministerial berths.

Besides Jathedar Makkar who was elected the SGPC last year, the other possible contenders could be the old Akali warhorse Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi and the soft spoken former college teacher Kirpal Singh Badungar. Though both have held the top post, but their chances would depend on Mr Badal who has been authorised by his party Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to 'choose' the office bearers and executive of the SGPC.

While age is not on the side of Jathedar Talwandi, there is some opposition to Mr Badungar, particularly from the supporters of Bibi Jagir Kaur. With assembly elections around the corner, Mr Badal will prefer Jathedar Makkar, as he is not aligned to any faction or group leader in the SAD (Badal).

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