Overcoming legal and Covid19 pandemic hurdles, all decks are now cleared for the eighth election to the general house of the DSGMC, wherein 345,000 registered Sikh voters will exercise their franchise for 46 constituencies across Delhi. Held every four years, candidates of six groups and a sizable number of independents are in the fray in a contest that has been dominated more by external issues than the priorities of Sikh citizens of Delhi. Today’s election is an opportunity for Delhi’s Sikh citizens to determine that the best candidates win and impact the working of DSGMC. WSN Delhi Desk’s Gurmeet Singh reports.

With the social media savvy Sikh youth taking a keen interest in the DSGMC polls, if this is translated into a healthy turnout at the polls, there is likely a qualitative difference in the participation of the Sikh electorate in Delhi. 182 candidates of six groups and 128 independents are contesting the DSGMC elections, with an almost equal number of male and female voters. Of the total registered voters, there are 173,000 males and 172,000 females.

Registered Sikh voters can log on to the website of the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections for details. The comprehensive ward-wise voter list is also available on the Voter List page of the Gurdwara Elections website. 

Those wishing to know the candidates in each constituency may log on to the List of Candidates page of the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections.  The list of polling booths per respective constituency can be accessed here.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi State (Badal) has fielded candidates in all 46 wards while the coalition of Paramjit Singh Sarna-led Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi has candidates in 34 wards and Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh-led Panthak Akali Lehar in 8 wards. Manjit Singh GK-led Jago party has fielded candidates in 41 wards while Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala-led Sikh Sadbhavna Dal has candidates in 27 constituencies and Panthak Sewa Dal in 27.

The hot seat -Punjabi Bagh has the maximum number of 12 contestants with incumbent president Manjinder Singh Sirsa facing a challenge from Harvinder Singh Sarna.

The hot seat -Punjabi Bagh has the maximum number of 12 contestants with incumbent president Manjinder Singh Sirsa facing a challenge from Harvinder Singh Sarna.  In the Kalkaji constituency, sitting general secretary Harmeet Singh Kalka faces a tough scenario with only 3 candidates in the fray.  Vivek Vihar has 11 candidates. 

Subsequent to results on 25 August, the 150 crores-budget body will co-opt 4 members from registered Singh Sabhas and the Jathedars of the 5 Takhts will be ex-officio members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, under the provisions of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971 and the poll process will be completed on 31 August 2021.

DSGMC manages 8 Historical Gurdwaras, 14 Guru Harkrishan Public Schools, 5 Khalsa Aided Schools, 1 Hospital, 2 ITI Polytechniques, 1 Old Age Home and 8 Pilgrim Inns.

DSGMC manages 8 Historical Gurdwaras, 14 Guru Harkrishan Public Schools, 5 Khalsa Aided Schools, 1 Hospital, 2 ITI Polytechniques, 1 Old Age Home and 8 Pilgrim Inns.

The turnout of the elections beyond cadres will determine the outcome of the elections to be held in 554 polling booths, with an average of 11 polling booths per constituency, while Jangpura has only 8 polling booths and Tri Nagar has 15 booths. 

While the charm has decreased in the last two decades, the onus is on the Sikh voters. The leaders of the Badal Dal primarily focussed on issues not related to Sikhs of Delhi, except the opening of the Bala Sahib Hospital.  Others gave primacy to Baragari sacrilege issue, Kashmir, Sikligars of Madhya Pradesh, farmers rights, heritage issue in Amritsar and other Punjab issues.  

Across parties, little attention was focussed on grassroots work in the National Capital Territory of Delhi for Punjabi Language, Sikh Dharam Prachar, upliftment of economically weaker sections of Sikhs and the non-vocal  Covid19-affected medium income group Sikh families and the community needs for basic and higher education. 

Paramjit Singh Sarna-led Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi focussed on the corruption deals of the Badal Dal and brought these before the Sikh Sangat, filed litigation in courts and has also run a campaign to focus on these issues on social media. After highlighting the case of heritage destruction in Delhi, Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala led a campaign against corruption.  Similarly, Bhai Ranjit Singh made fervent appeals to the Sikh Sangat to rise to the occasion and return responsible Sewa-oriented candidates.

Throughout the electioneering, there was not much to show of any AAP-engineered interference in the DSGMC elections. However, after being pulled up by the Delhi High Court, the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections of the Government of Delhi issued a strict notice to the Badal Dal restraining them from violation of the Model Code of conduct, including stopping the inauguration of the Bala Sahib Hospital.

theThe DSGMC is a 150 crores-budget body.

The Directorate has also issued an advisory for voters at polling booths and it is their hope that the Sikh citizens will follow them, in view of the Covid19 situation. 

Across parties, little attention was focussed on grassroots work in the National Capital Territory of Delhi for Punjabi Language, Sikh Dharam Prachar, upliftment of economically weaker sections of Sikhs and the non-vocal  Covid19-affected medium income group Sikh families and the community needs for basic and higher education. 

The Directorate has also issued an advisory for voters at polling booths and it is their hope that the Sikh citizens will follow them, in view of the Covid19 situation. 

WSN learns that attempts by well-meaning Sikhs to bring candidates of all groups on a single public platform for debate did not receive an affirmative response, either from the candidates or their parties.

There were no serious discussions on process-based work in DSGMC.

There were no serious discussions on process-based work in DSGMC, all parties coming together on core issues sidelining their individual ideologies, qualitative improvement of existing institutions and most importantly reducing the legal expenses of the DSGMC which is engulfed in a large number of cases in the court. 

In the heart of India’s capital Delhi, Sikh citizens have the opportunity to showcase their dedication, devotion and management skills to the world, as there is growing interest in the deeds and misdeeds of Sikh bodies. Which way the DSGMC goes will be known soon from the response of the Sikh Sangat.