Amritsar/Chandigarh, 28 October 2024 — Harjinder Singh Dhami has successfully secured reelection as president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), triumphing with 107 votes over his opponent, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who garnered only 33 votes. This victory marks Dhami’s fourth term leading the influential organization.
Dhami, a long-time member of the SGPC from the Sham Chaurasi segment, has been affiliated with the Badal family and represents the Doaba region of Punjab. He has been actively involved in SGPC affairs since 1996 and hails from Piplan Wala village in Hoshiarpur district.
The election, which took place at the Teja Singh Samudari Hall, saw participation from 141 members. Alongside Dhami’s victory, Raghujit Singh Virk was elected unopposed as senior vice-president, while Baldev Singh Kalyan and Sher Singh were appointed as junior vice-president and general secretary, respectively. Notably, the 11-member executive was also nominated without contention.
In the 2022 SGPC presidential elections, Dhami had similarly outperformed Kaur, winning 104 votes to her 42. The current election had been anticipated as a competitive showdown between Dhami, representing the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Kaur, a former three-term president of SGPC affiliated with SAD Sudhar Lehar.
Kaur campaigned on a platform emphasizing the restoration of “independent authority” for Sikh institutions and the Jathedars of the five Takhts. Her agenda included reforms aimed at reducing external political influence, improving facilities for devotees, digitizing SGPC land records, and launching initiatives for Sikh outreach, such as the Dharam Prachar Lehar. A seasoned leader, Kaur joined the SAD in 1995, became an MLA in 1997, and has built a reputation for decisiveness.
In contrast, Dhami’s re-election bid leaned heavily on his previous accomplishments, which include enhancing the Central Sikh Museum at the Golden Temple with portraits of Sikh martyrs. He contended that “anti-Panthic” forces, including the BJP and RSS, are attempting to undermine SAD’s influence over Sikh institutions through financial inducements to SGPC members. “These forces aim to take control of Sikh bodies built on the sacrifices of our community,” Dhami stated, rallying support for the Khalsa Panth against what he describes as “nefarious designs” to disrupt Sikh institutional independence.
The SGPC House consists of 185 members, including 15 co-opted members. Currently, there are 148 active members, with 31 deceased, four who have resigned, and two who have lost voting rights. The five Takht Jathedars and the head granthi of the Golden Temple are also counted within the House, although they do not possess voting rights.
