The Akal Takht-constituted five-member committee has invited the 528 newly appointed delegates to elect the new Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief at Gurdwara Burj Akali Phula Singh at 11 am in Amritsar on Monday.
The development is being watched keenly by political parties since the election will pave the way for the formation of a parallel Akali Dal.
The key contenders include sacked Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, a bête noire of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal; and Satwant Kaur, a member of the committee and daughter of Amrik Singh, former head of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, who was killed inside the Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star.
Charanjit Singh Brar, office coordinator of the committee, said if the delegates failed to elect the SAD president unanimously, they would hold elections.
The committee has already informed the Election Commission in this regard. Santa Singh Umaidpuri, another panel member, will act as the election officer. The other members include Manpreet Singh Ayali, Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Iqbal Singh Jhunda.
DGP Gaurav Yadav and Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar had been asked to ensure adequate security at the poll venue, said Brar.
The panel had refused to hold a meeting at Bhai Gurdas Ji Hall after the SGPC barred it from holding ‘Parkash’ of Guru Granth Sahib there, said Brar. The SGPC had earlier denied it permission to hold the meeting at Teja Singh Samundri Hall.