The Hindu : Other States / Punjab News : SGPC general elections on July 11

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Wednesday, Jun 02, 2004

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SGPC general elections on July 11

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 1. Nearly 54 lakh Sikh voters in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh would exercise their franchise on July 11 to elect 170 members of the General House of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), also known as the "mini parliament'' of the Sikh community.

The notification to this effect was issued by the Gurdwara Election Commission, which directed that filing of nominations, which began today, would continue till June 8. Scrutiny of the papers would be undertaken on June 11, while the last date for withdrawal of nomination is June 23. The respective Deputy Commissioners of the districts would be the returning officers for the polls. There are 120 constituencies in all, with 50 being double. While 30 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, 20 have been put aside for women. Fifteen members are nominated, while the designated five "Singh Sahibs'' (chiefs of the religio-temporal seats) are ex-officio members. Of the total 170 seats to which voters would elect the members, 157 fall in Punjab, 11 in Haryana and one each in Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.

Though the Gurdwara Act lays down that elections to the general house be held after five years, the exercise was carried out previously in 1996, when the Akali faction led by former Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal swept the field. Elections were due in October 2001, when Mr. Badal's government in the State and the NDA government at the Centre did not conduct the polls. Voting rights for `Sehajdhari' (non-baptised) Sikhs was used as a pretext to delay the polls. Later, the electoral rolls were completed, when the Union Home Ministry denied the Sehajdhari Sikhs any right to participate in the polls.

Amid major speculation that the State government might advise the Union Home Ministry for postponement, the notification was issued today. Mr. Badal had pleaded with the Prime Minister against any postponement. The holding of the elections for the SGPC was being seen as a major challenge for the first "Sikh'' Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Any delay in the notification could have contributed in generating confrontation with the Akalis, resulting in the erosion of "goodwill'' the Congress has gathered by making Dr. Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister.

With the notification, different parties have swung into the election mode once again. Mr. Badal and other senior leaders of his party are said to have finalised their list, which is expected in a couple of days. On the other hand, various rival Akali factions, splinter groups and radical organisations have begun to pool their resources, in their campaign, which they term is aimed to "oust Badal from religious institutions''.

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SGPC general elections on July 11