Amritsar: The corridors of the Teja Singh Samundari Hall buzzed with anticipation on Sunday evening as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) prepared to elect its next president and office-bearers. The annual election, scheduled for today, has taken on an unusually intense tone this year, with two clear camps vying for control of Sikhism’s most influential administrative body.
At the centre of the contest stands Harjinder Singh Dhami, the incumbent president backed by the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), who is bidding for an unprecedented fifth straight term. His long-standing dominance, however, faces its stiffest challenge yet from a reorganised faction of the party, led by Giani Harpreet Singh, the former acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib.
A Test of Influence and Ideology
Unlike previous years, where SAD’s central leadership handpicked the SGPC chief and office-bearers, this election is witnessing a subtle but significant shift. Giani Harpreet Singh has allowed SGPC members affiliated with his camp to choose their candidate through consultation — a move he described as a reflection of “true democratic spirit.”
“We are moving away from the culture of one-man decisions,” he said after addressing his supporters. “The members themselves will decide who leads them.”
Meanwhile, the mainline SAD faction met under Sukhbir Singh Badal’s leadership late Sunday, reaffirming Dhami’s candidature and expressing confidence in maintaining control of the SGPC’s General House.
The Numbers Game
The SGPC, headquartered in Amritsar, functions through its 191-member General House. Of these, 170 members are directly elected from constituencies across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh. Another 15 are nominated, while six are ex-officio members, including the jathedars of the five Takhts and the head granthi of the Golden Temple. Notably, 30 seats are reserved for women, ensuring a degree of inclusivity in the influential body’s structure.
Dhami’s Track Record
Harjinder Singh Dhami’s rise within the SGPC has been marked by consistency and resilience. Since his first election victory in 2021, he has managed to hold the presidency through four consecutive years.
In his debut year, Dhami defeated Mithu Singh Kahanke with 122 votes. The following year, Bibi Jagir Kaur took him head-on but fell short, securing 42 votes against Dhami’s 104. His victories in 2023 and 2024, with 118 and 107 votes respectively, reaffirmed his firm grip on the organization’s leadership.
Growing Dissent and Renewed Energy
However, cracks have begun to appear in the long-standing Akali hold over the SGPC. Many observers note that Giani Harpreet Singh’s emergence has energized several members who felt sidelined by centralised decision-making within the SAD. The faction’s challenge, while still numerically weaker, has succeeded in stirring debate over internal democracy and transparency.
Political analysts believe the outcome of today’s poll could redefine internal power equations. “Even if Dhami retains his post, a closer vote margin would signal a changing mood within the SGPC,” said a senior observer from Amritsar.
The Stakes
The SGPC election has traditionally been more than an administrative affair — it is a barometer of influence within the Sikh religious and political landscape. Control over the SGPC provides not just religious authority but also substantial social and political leverage in Punjab’s political circles.
As ballots are cast today, the tension is palpable. For Dhami, victory would mean continuity and consolidation. For Giani Harpreet Singh and his supporters, even a narrow loss could still mark the beginning of a new era of dissent and debate within the institution.
Whatever the result, today’s election will likely leave a lasting imprint on the future course of Sikh religious politics — a contest between tradition and transition unfolding within the sacred walls of Amritsar’s most powerful hall.
