CHANDIGARH: Despite all-out efforts being made by Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal to defeat Gurcharan Singh Tohra as President of S.G.P.C., success may elude the former. Tohra has a strong base among 97. Members of the Gurdwara organization who were elected way back in 1978. No elections have since been held. Because the Indian government does not want to organize the election. As many as three members are abroad while a few others are sick or immobile. Thus not more than 90 members are likely to attend and vote on November 25 when the general house of the. S.GP.C. meets to elect the President for the new term. Badal’s supporters are not too sure of dislodging Tohra. The S.G.P.C. chief has succeeded in projecting Badal as a rebel to Akal Takht and an agent of Delhi. That appears to be cutting a lot of ice with most members. In the event of Tohra winning, which is likely, large scale changes in the Sikh political scene will take place and the Akal Takht Jathedar might play a crucial role in the next few weeks, according to political observers.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 25, 1994
