Delhi's Sikh leaders trying to regain lost ground through DSGMC executive polls

AMRITSAR: Elections for the executive body and office-bearers of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) may be restricted to Sikhs only, but both SAD(Badal) and Congress are trying to regain their lost political ground after the fiasco in Delhi assembly polls. Both parties have put their might to secure victory in these elections.
Akalis may have lost Delhi assembly polls but they have not lost hope.To revive the party, SAD(B) president Sukhbir Singh Badal held a meeting with party's Delhi unit and office-bearers of DSGMC ahead of gurdwara body's elections scheduled for February 27.
Similarly, Congress-backed SAD(Delhi), led by Paramjit Singh Sarna, has unleashed a spate of allegations on the rival Akalis and have blamed them for allegedly plundering the 'golak' (holy coffer).
Sources told TOI that the current team of DSGMC, backed by SAD(B) and Congress-backed former management of the gurdwara body led by SAD(Delhi) president Sarna were in a bid to make their political return through these elections. Both Congress and SAD(B) were routed in the recently-concluded Delhi assembly elections.
SAD(B) leaders are upbeat after ousting the Sarna group from Takht Patna Sahib Management Board last week and want to repeat their performance in DSGMC polls. Elections are being held for 10 executive members and five office-bearers of DSGMC.
While blaming the Akalis for mishandling gurdwara funds, former DSGMC president Paramjit Sarna said they had failed in the Delhi assembly elections and they were going to lose DSGMC's executive body polls too. He also claimed that DSGMC was in gross financial mess. "Akalis have plundered gurdwara coffers," he alleged.