AMRITSAR: Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohras election as President of S.G.P.C. on November 30 is certain as his only opponent Jagdev Singh Talwandi has failed to muster support enough to pose him a challenge.
According to political observers here Talwandi may not be able to get more than a dozen votes. The effective strength of the Sikh Gurdwara organization is 125. Four members are said to have gone out of India As many as 44 members died after the last general election to the S.G.P.C house in 1979.
Initially Simranjit Singh Mann announced his party’s support to Talwandi but later had second thoughts last year Mann’s support to Harcharan Singh Dilli could not ensure more than seven voles for him against Tohra. There has been no change in the situation during the past one year. Bhai Manjit Singh tried to emulate Mann in announcing his opposition to Thora but the latest reports are that he has developed cold feet.
Bhai Manjit Singhs calculation appears to be that Thora’s victory is certain. Any public opposition to him will only frustrate Manjit Singh electoral calculations in the event of fresh poll being held in Punjab. Even in Manjit decides to oppose Thora it is unlikely to make any significant dent in his support base among the S.G.P.C members it is felt.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 27, 1992
