Though the defiant former SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, failed to win the mandate against SAD candidate Harjinder Singh Dhami in the contest to win the top SGPC post, she has “been successful” in slapping the SAD’s armour since she polled twice as many votes as opposition candidates in previous elections.
Bibi polled 42 votes against 104 votes for incumbent Dhami. In the previous elections, the opposition candidates had around 20 votes, even though the margin seemed convincing.
With or without the support of the party, Bibi Jagir Kaur remained adamant on running for the SGPC president’s post. Angered by her actions, the SAD’s disciplinary panel suspended and expelled her.
It appeared that she was in high spirits after today’s result, contrary to expectations.
What makes you think I lost? There is still a long way to go. The SAD’s ‘lifafa culture’ has been ended thanks to me. When I was a child, my name used to ‘pop out’ from the same ‘lifafa’. “I succeeded in convincing more members against the nefarious plans of the SAD leaders,” she added.
Aside from the 42 votes, she said three of her members were now part of the SGPC’s executive body. As a result, they will be involved in all committee decisions. As long as the SGPC takes the wrong call, we will oppose them,” she said. SGPC chief Dhami, however, said that no matter what the margin, a win was a win.