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Political Notes |
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Punjab : End of Tohra’s innings, set back for Sikh politics
Sikh politics in Punjab suffered a major setback with the death of Gurcharan Singh Tohra, a veteran Akali leader, who died in New Delhi last week after a brief illness.
The death of Tohra has two major political implications. Firstly and undoubtedly, his death would hit Akali politics very hard especially at a time when Parliamentary elections are close. The state goes go the polls on May 10.
There is little doubt Tohra’s death has left former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal alone at the helm of affairs as far as Sikh politics is concerned. In key positions since 1972 - when then Akali Dal president Sant Fateh Singh and SGPC president Chanan Singh died within a month of each other - both Tohra and Badal experienced many ups and downs as they separated and rejoined over three times. While Tohra took over the SGPC’s reins in 1973 and was president for a record 28 times, Badal continued to occupy important positions in the Akali Dal’s hierarchy.
Observers believe that now Badal is likely to emerge stronger in the absence of any formidable challenge to his authority. He is likely to have full control over Sikh political and religious affairs. The most affected would be Tohra loyalists, who did not shift allegiance even after the Tohra-Badal reunion.
Meanwhile, Tohra’s demise is likely to trigger a race among Akali leaders for the SGPC president’s post. Kirpal Singh Badungar, who vacated the position for Tohra last year, might get another opportunity. Bibi Jagir Kaur and SGPC senior vice-president Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke will also lobby for the post.
Second, Tohra’s death is going to help the Congress at least by two seats in the state. The present Congress led govt in Punjab has been in news for all wrong reasons. The ongoing fight between the two Congress leaders, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has adversely affected the party’s image and thus the observers feel that the chances of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) winning elections are very high. But with Tohra’s death, the fortunes of the party lay in uncertainty. Tohra was better known as a spiritual leader who lent the religious sanction to the politics of the SAD, he also had considerable influence in Congress Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s home district, Patiala. Tohra’s man, SS Libra, was considered a powerful candidate in the Ropar (SC) constituency. Although it was the Congress candidate, SS Dullo, who won the seat in 1999 against Libra, Tohra was expecting the seat to come to the SAD kitty this time. Now there is a question mark on this. In Patiala, Amarinder Singh’s wife Preneet Kaur is expected to retain the seat comfortably.
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