CHANDIGARH:The Congress party in Punjab which is hoping to make a comeback to power in Punjab could get a major boost as highly placed sources said that Sehajdahri Sikh Party also called as Sehajdhari Sikh Federation Party is joining hands with Congress for the upcoming assembly polls to be held in the state on January 30.The formal announcement in this regard was expected anytime.
In the event of this, the Sehajdahri Sikh Party will withdraw its candidates from the contest. This would be great boost to Congress as they play important role in turning the electoral outcome in the state in favour of a particular party. In the previous assembly elections held in 2007, the Sehajdhari Sikhs had voted in favour of SAD-BJP combine with the Badals promising them to nominate their representatives in the SGPC.
According to the national President of the Sehajdhari Sikh Party Dr.P.S.Ranu, as per the latest population census 2011, there are 1.74 crore Sikhs in Punjab with only 55 lakh were enrolled by the Gurudwara Election Commission as Sikh voters in the SGPC elections and if deducting 50 lakh as minors and non eligible, still the pending 70 lakh Sikhs have been deprived of their voting right by declaring them as patits and
Sehajdharis.
He said that these 70 lakh Sikhs will definitely display their strength and vote against the Badals to express their resentment against the Akalis as they seek votes from them as a faith for the Panth during the general elections, but when it comes to the SGPC elections, they declare them non panthics and patits. He said that the options for support to those who support the cause of Sehajdharis is open till last.
Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to the Centre, Punjab government, SGPC and Gurudwara Election Tribunal for February 8 on a PIL by Sehajdharis (non-baptised Sikhs), seeking fresh elections of SGPC and inclusion of Sehajdhari in revised list. On December 20, the High Court had quashed the Centre’s notification debarring Sehajdharis from voting in the Sikh body’s polls. The petitioner in his appeal had contended that till the fresh elcetions are held, newly elected members of SGPC, which is the apex religious body of the Sikhs, be restrained from acting
