First Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Elections Held Peacefully

In a landmark development, the first-ever elections for the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) were conducted peacefully on Sunday, fulfilling a decades-long demand of the Sikh community in Haryana. Out of 40 elected members, independent candidates emerged as a decisive force, securing 21 wards and holding the key to the leadership of the newly formed body. However, the results of three wards were not declared by the filing of this report.The elections, which marked a significant chapter in the Sikh community’s struggle for autonomy, saw 69% voter participation from 3.5 lakh registered voters.

The process, conducted through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), began at 8 AM and concluded at 5 PM across 406 polling booths.Prominent Sikh leaders Baljit Singh Daduwal, Jagdish Singh Jhinda, and Didar Singh Nalvi fielded candidates under their respective banners. However, independent candidates outperformed expectations. Key winners include Harmanpreet Singh from Thanesar, Didar Singh Nalvi from Shahbad, and Advocate Bhai Vindar Singh Khalsa, who defeated Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal in a high-stakes contest in Kalanwali.The HSGMC election is the result of over two decades of advocacy by Sikh leaders for a separate body to manage Haryana’s 52 gurdwaras, previously under the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

The demand gained momentum during the 2005 assembly elections and culminated in 2014 when the then Bhupinder Singh Hooda government passed the HSGMC Act. Legal hurdles delayed the elections until the Supreme Court upheld the Act’s validity in 2022.With nine additional members to be nominated by the majority group, the newly elected HSGMC will soon elect its first president. The body will oversee the management and funding of Haryana’s gurdwaras, including eight historical sites.This election marks a historic moment for Haryana’s Sikh community, signifying their unity and determination to take charge of their religious institutions. As per the information the Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner will announce the schedule for the election of the president of HSGMC.