Amritsar, November 3, 2025 (Navroze Bureau) – Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has once again secured his position as President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), marking his fifth consecutive term at the helm of the apex Sikh religious body. Dhami triumphed with an overwhelming mandate defeating Mithu Singh Kahneke of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) faction of Giani Harpreet Singh, by a margin of 99 votes. He received 117 votes, while his opponent managed only 18.
Apart from Dhami’s re-election, Raghujeet Singh Virk from Haryana was unanimously chosen as Senior Vice-President, Baldev Singh Kalyan as Junior Vice-President and Sher Singh Mandwala as General Secretary. The 11-member interim committee was also elected in the general session including Surjit Singh Garhi, Surjit Singh Tugalwala, Surjit Singh Kang, Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, Daljit Singh Bhinder from Himachal Pradesh, Bibi Harjinder Kaur from Chandigarh, Baldev Singh Kaimpuri from Haryana, Major Singh Dhillon, Mangwinder Singh Khaparkheri, Jang Bahadar Singh Rai and Mithu Singh Kahneke.
The result reaffirms the continued influence of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in SGPC affairs. In contrast, the opposition faction’s performance saw a further decline. During last year’s SGPC election, the Akali Dal (Sudhar Lehar) managed to secure 33 votes but this time, the transformed Punar Surjit faction could not even retain that number. The shrinking opposition presence signals a consolidation of the Badal group’s control within the Committee.
The election meeting began with Advocate Dhami urging members to elect the office-bearers by a show of hands. However, the opposition declined this appeal forcing the committee members to proceed with a formal voting process. The subsequent poll confirmed Dhami’s overwhelming popularity among members.
Badal, Cheema congratulates Dhami and members
Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had announced Dhami’s candidature after detailed consultations with SGPC members, expressed gratitude to all for their unanimous support and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to preserving the sanctity and independent functioning of the SGPC.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal’s spokesperson Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema hailed the result as a significant victory for the party. He said it reaffirmed the members’ confidence in Dhami’s leadership, describing him as a person of integrity who has served the Panth with dedication.
What the Victory Means for Sikh Institutions and Pilgrims
Dhami’s re-election is expected to provide continuity and stability to the SGPC’s policies and projects particularly those concerning gurdwara management, religious education and heritage conservation. Under his leadership the SGPC is likely to continue its ongoing digitization of records, modernization of facilities for pilgrims at Sri Harmandir Sahib and expansion of humanitarian initiatives through Sikh institutions.
Sikh scholars also note that Dhami’s strong rapport with both religious and political circles within Punjab and India could help the SGPC navigate challenges such as disputes over gurdwara management in Haryana and the preservation of Sikh historical sites across India.
Harjinder Singh Dhami, a seasoned advocate from Hoshiarpur, has been associated with the SGPC for decades. Known for his disciplined demeanor and legal acumen, he has focused on transparency, education and welfare-oriented initiatives during his previous terms. His fifth consecutive election underlines the committee’s trust in his leadership and signals another phase of steady administration in Sikh religious governance.
With this victory, Dhami strengthens his position as one of the most enduring presidents in SGPC’s recent history, a sign that the organization, despite internal dissent and political undercurrents, values experience and continuity at its highest level.