The interest of Sikh voters towards Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee’s (DSGMC) elections is drastically decreasing day by day. In present elections only 1 Lakh 29 thousand i.e. nearly 37 percent Sikh voter out of a total of 3 Lakh 42 thousand put their votes, whereas in last Gurdwara elections held in 2017 about 1 Lakh 74 thousand i.e. 45 percent Sikh voters out of a total of 3 Lakh 86 thousand exercised their voting rights.
As such, about 45 thousand voters as compared to 2017 did not use their voting right this time.
During recent Delhi Gurdwara elections held on 22nd August 2021, a total of 312 candidates were in the fray consisting of 182 candidates from various religious parties and 130 independent candidates. But the independent candidates failed to attract the voters in their favour resulting in the win of only one independent candidate whereas all other 129 independent candidates lost their security deposits.
Figure-wise, all these 130 independent candidates jointly secured only 2160 votes in all over Delhi, out of which 1174 votes were secured by the lone winning independent candidates and rest of 986 votes were secured jointly by the remaining 129 candidates amounting to only 7 votes per candidate on an average.
The vote percentage of Shiromani Akali Dal decreased to 40 percent from the existing 45 percent in 2017 elections. Similarly, Shiromani Akali Dal Sarna secured 27 percent votes in comparison to 31 percent in 2017. Whereas 2 candidates out of 46 candidates of Badal Dal and 5 out of 34 candidates of Sarna Dal lost their security deposit.
Though the first time contesting JAGO party floated by Manjit Singh G.K. managed to get 15 percent votes but security deposit of its 21 candidates out of 41 was forfeited. The performance of other recognized parties was also not upto the mark because 3 parties i.e. Panthak Sewa Dal, Sikh Sadbhawna Dal and Panthak Akali Lehar now stand de-recognized for their failure to procure 6 percent of valid votes polled.
While Panthak Sewa Dal got only 1 percent votes in comparison to 8 percent in 2017, losing security deposit of all its 27 candidates this time. Similarly Sikh Sadbhawna Dal got only 3 percent votes as against 4 percent in 2017 elections losing security deposit of 22 candidates out of 26 and Panthak Akali Lehar secured 3 percent against 2 percent votes secured in 2017 thereby losing security deposit of 5 candidates out of 8. As per the Delhi Gurdwara rules, security deposit of Rs. 5000 in respect of the candidates securing less than 20% of valid votes polled is forfeited to the government.
It is pertinent to mention that the security deposit of 211 out 312 candidates has been forfeited this time as compared to 237 candidates out of 335 contested candidates in 2017. Figure-wise, Shiromani Akali Dal Badal got 53 throusand votes, Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi Sarna 36 thousand and JAGO party got 21 thousand votes respectively.
Apart from them, Sikh Sadbhawna Dal got 5 thousand, Panthak Akali Lehar 4 thousand and Panthak Sewa Dal procured only 2 thousand votes leaving apart 7 thousand cancelled votes in all the 46 Gurdwara wards in Delhi. Out of 46 Gurdwara ward, Badal group won 27 seats, Sarna Dal 14, JAGO party 3 and one each seat won by Panthik Akali Lehar and Independent Candidate.
In the ensuing election of Executive Board of DSGMC likely to be held in the last week of this month, 26 members will be required by any group/party to get control of the management of DSGMC, whereas Badal group has presently 27 members and Sarna group has 19 members. By adding one member of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and one co-opted members, the number of Badal Dal will rise to 29 which is more than the required number to get control of DSGMC.
However the loyalty of 2 President of registered Singh Sabha Gurdwaras of Delhi to be chosen by draw of lot on 9th September can change figure of these parties. Although one member of Sarna group has recently defected to Badal Dal increasing its number to 30, but this trend of defection is not in good taste in the Gurdwara management, hence this practice should be avoided by all religious parties/groups.
Inder Mohan Singh
Expert in Delhi Gurdwara Election Affairs.
Mob: 9971564801
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