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Journalism of Courage
AMRITSAR, MARCH 9: Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal SAD president Parkash Singh Badal is likely to have the final word in the selection of the successor of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra.
The caste factor is expected to play a decisive role in the choice of the probable candidate. Sources in SAD said search was on for a suitable Jat candidate as it may also be a compulsion of Badal under the prevailing circumstances.
Badal is understood to have shortlisted four candidates for the post. They are Kewal Singh Badal, son of SAD senior vice-president Gurdev Singh Badal, Social Welfare Minister Jagir Kaur, ex-SGPC general secretary Mal Singh Ghuman and Balbir Singh Pannu, present gen secretary.
Among them Kewal Singh Badal belongs to a Scheduled Caste, Jagir Kaur is from Lubana backward class and rest two are Jat Sikhs. Since Badal is said to be keen to appoint Gurdev Singh Badal as acting president of SAD, appointing his son Kewal Singh on SGPC top post seems out of question. His selection may also not be possible as Giani Puran Singh, who is appointed acting jathedar of Akal Takht, is also a Scheduled Caste.
The aspect that SGPC president should have a religious background goes in favour of Jagir Kaur. The SGPC post was reportedly declined to her but she may accept it on Badal8217;s insistence. Badal is understood to have offered the post of SGPC general secretary to Kiranjot Kaur, another promising SGPC member. In such a situation, the post of president may not be given to Jagir Kaur.
Mal Singh Ghuman, being senior SGPC member and two time general secretary, is a hot contestant for the seat. He held the post during militancy and he was also shot at by militants. His unblemished track record may support his candidature.
Balbir Singh Pannu, the spokesman of 10 Badal loyalist SGPC executive members, is also eyeing this post due to unconditional support he had extended to the Badal camp. The things, however, may not be so smooth for Pannu, considering his close association with Cooperation Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura.
Pannu belongs to Naushehra Pannuan village falling in Patti sub-division, which is the home constituency of Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, son-in-law of Badal. Kairon family would not like to see any other Akali leader in Patti area emerging bigger than them. The same yardstick applies to Brahmpura, who is considered a political rival of Kairon family.
Badal will also have a hard choice for the post of general secretary. Under the Gurdwara Act, if no-confidence motion against Tohra is passed, the whole new executive would be elected. Kiranjot Kaur, Hardalbir Singh Shah, Puran Singh Josh are in the race. Josh is considered a staunch opponent of Tohra and is a outspoken critic of the alleged corrupt practices that prevailed in Tohra8217;s period. This very characteristic of him may go against him. Badal is unlikely to go for Josh since his anti-Tohra mindset may not be a guarantee for loyalty to Badal.
