Independents steal show in first Hry Sikh body elections

Jhinda group has an edge as majority of independents are likely to join it

- Bhavey Nagpal

KARNAL: Jagdish Singh Jhinda led Panthak Dal (Jhinda) group is set to gain majority with support from independents or other smaller groups in the 40-member Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) elections, polling for which was held on Sunday. None of the major groups claimed victory till the writing of this report as they also did not contest from all wards.

However, the majority of the independents are likely to join Jhinda, the crusader of gurdwara politics in Haryana.

As per official figures, former HSGMC (ad hoc) president Jhinda's group contested from 20 wards, former senior vice president Didar Singh Nalvi's Sikh Samaj Sanstha from 19 and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-affiliated Haryana Sikh Panthic Dal (HSPD) led by Baldev Singh Kaimpur from 20 wards.

Former president Baljit Singh Daduwal faced humiliating defeat, and most of his supporters who contested as independents lost too.

While Jhinda did not give clarity on the number of winners from his group, Nalvi said that four of his candidates including him won.

Speaking to HT, Nalvi said, "Two independents are also with me, but there is an edge to the Jhinda group. Also, I'm ready to support Jhinda group directly or indirectly as we were the first to start this struggle in the state."