Harjinder Singh Dhami continues leadership: Re-Elected SGPC President for fourth consecutive term
Amritsar (The Uttam Hindu): Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Harjinder Singh Dhami was re-elected as the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for the fourth consecutive term on Monday, defeating former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur in a decisive victory for the 2024-2025 term. A total of 142 votes were cast in the election, which was held at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall in the Golden Temple complex. Despite Dhami's initial proposal for an open voting process by 'raising hands' being rejected, he secured 107 votes while Bibi Jagir Kaur garnered only 33, with two votes deemed invalid.
Raghujit Singh Virk was elected unopposed as senior vice-president, while Baldev Singh Kalyan and Sher Singh were elected as junior vice-president and general secretary, respectively. The 11-member executive was also nominated without any contest. According to the Gurdwara Act of 1925, the SGPC must reorganize annually by electing its leadership and executive body through a general vote, if necessary. This election may be the last for the current SGPC body, as the Chief Gurdwara Election Commission has announced plans for General Elections for a five-year term, with voter registration already underway. Dhami has served as SGPC chief for four consecutive terms: 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and now 2024-2025. He previously took over from Bibi Jagir Kaur in the 2021-2022 elections and has maintained a non-controversial tenure.
Born on August 28, 1956, Dhami is a loyalist of the Badal family from Punjab’s Doaba region. He has been an SGPC member representing the Sham Chaurasi segment since 1996 and hails from Piplan Wala village in Hoshiarpur district. The SGPC generally comprises 185 members, including 15 co-opted members, but currently has 148, with 31 members having passed away, four resigned, and two lost voting rights. The assembly included notable figures like the Golden Temple’s Head Granthi and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, as well as other high-ranking Sikh leaders.
