SGPC president election to lay foundation for 2027 Punjab Assembly polls

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) presidential election, scheduled for November 20, is not merely a battle for the chair, but could determine the political equations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. According to an NDTV report, current president Harjinder Singh Dhami seeks to retain his position, while former president Bibi Jagir Kaur is striving to return to the post.

Bibi Jagir Kaur's role in this election will be significant as she has indicated her return to the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) on November 13. Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal will visit her home constituency, Begowal, to welcome her. This sequence of events suggests that the election will be a test of two types of influence: first, who can garner more support within the SGPC House, and second, how the Akali Dal can re-establish its political strength before the 2027 elections. While the result will not be the final decision on the party's future, it will certainly provide a precise measure of its influence.

SGPC members are elected from constituencies across both urban and rural areas of Punjab. These members hold considerable influence within their local communities, ensuring that the institution's reach is not limited solely to the management of Gurdwaras. Consequently, their political preferences and regional reputations could play a vital role in the 2027 Assembly elections.

Jagir Kaur's return to the Akali Dal (Badal) is particularly noteworthy as she has navigated various stages of the ongoing division in Akali politics. Following differences with the party under Badal's leadership, she had joined the SAD (Punir Surjit) led by Giani Harpreet Singh. She is now preparing to rejoin SAD (Badal). In a conversation with NDTV, she stated that she had never left the Akali Dal, but had been expelled from the party.

Jagir Kaur identified herself as still being an Akali and argued that reforms are needed within the SGPC. She further stated that more people should be connected with the Sikh religion to help address concerns regarding conversions and other social challenges. The question now arises whether she will contest for the post of SGPC president or if her primary goal is to strengthen the party and improve its position in the House.

Sukhbir Badal's visit to Begowal and the welcoming of Jagir Kaur is a public signal of her political value. However, there is also debate over whether this compromise is based on shared principles or is a consolidation of voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

On the other hand, Harjinder Singh Dhami was elected president for a fifth consecutive term in November 2025, receiving 117 out of a total 136 votes. This year's election will determine if his support remains intact or if the return of leaders like Jagir Kaur has altered the equations. Amidst growing dissatisfaction with the management of the SGPC, some internal sources claim that a belief is being fostered that Dhami no longer wishes to continue as president.

Jagir Kaur has previously served as the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee three times. She held the post during 1999-2000, 2004-05, and 2020-21. She was the first woman to hold this important position.