The Shiromani Akali Dal, in alliance with the Sant Samaj, on Monday claimed a landslide in the elections to the general House of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee by bagging 157 of the 170 seats for which polling was held on Sunday.
Following the declaration of results by the Gurdwara Election Commission, party president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the alliance candidates won with comprehensive margins across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. The Akali Dal, which has been at the helm the organisation, known as “Mini Parliament of the Sikhs,” accounted for 140 seats in the previous House.
Mr. Badal said the results established that the people of Punjab had accepted the policies of the State government, which ushered in a new era of development. He said that by handing down a humiliating defeat to the Panthic Morcha, the people served a notice on the Congress leadership against putting up stooges to meddle in the religious affairs of the Sikh community.
Mr. Badal said the results were a clear indicator that the Akali Dal had taken a majority lead over its opponents in the run-up to the Assembly polls due in February next.
