Sukhbir Singh’s pick is new SGPC chief

Longowal proved a dark house as his name was not even initially considered for the post of SGPC president. SAD-affiliated SGPC members had given all rights to decide the candidate for the post to party president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday.

Sukhbir Singh Badal ’s pick is new SGPC chief

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Express photo by Jasbir Malhi

Former minister Gobind Singh Longowal was on Wednesday elected 42nd Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) president. Longowal, a former SAD MLA, has just one year of experience of working as SGPC member. It was after many years that secret ballot was used by SGPC House to elect its president. Longowal got 154 votes against 15 for Panthik Front candidate Amrik Singh Shahpur.

Longowal proved a dark house as his name was not even initially considered for the post of SGPC president. SAD-affiliated SGPC members had given all rights to decide the candidate for the post to party president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday.

Longowal, a close aide of former SAD president Harchand Singh Longowal, was earlier elected MLA from Dhanaula in 1985, 1997 and 2002. He also remained state minister in the Punjab Government from 1997 to 2002. He belongs to Longowal village in Sangrur district.

In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Longowal lost from Sunam.

In 2015, he was elected from Dhuri in a by-election following the resignation of sitting Congress MLA Arvind Khanna. Longowal had defeated Congress-Sanjha Morcha joint candidate Simar Partap Singh, grandson of former Governor and CM Surjit Singh Barnala, by 37,501 votes.

Longowal was first elected to SGPC House from Longowal constituency in 2011. He is the president with the least experience of working as SGPC member as the Supreme Court had suspended SGPC House elected in 2011 immediately after voting and it was resumed for functioning only in 2016.

SGPC constitution requires its House to elect its president every year. Kirpal Singh Badungar was the president elected in 2011.

Longowal, a known rival of the Dhindsa political family within SAD in Sangrur, was hand-picked by Sukhbir Singh Badal. All the new 15 members of executive committee also have Sukhbir’s approval.

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Raghujit Singh, another confidant of Sukhbir, has been appointed as senior vice-president and Harpal Singh Jalla as vice-president. Gurbachan Singh Karmuwala has been appointed general secretary.

Sajjan Singh Bajjuman, Lakhbir Singh, Bibi Gurpreet Kaur, Gurtej Singh Dhadde, Hardev Singh, Ravinder Singh Chackmukerian, Gurmeet Singh, Navtej Singh, Baba Gurmeet Singh and Bhagwant Singh Sialka and Amrik Singh Shahpur also find place in the 15-member SGPC executive committee.

Talking to the media, the new SGPC president said, “I got this position due to blessings of Guru. I thank president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Parkash Singh Badal for giving me this opportunity. I will perform my job with honesty.”

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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