Meet Gobind Singh Longowal, elected as 42nd president of SGPC
By Raju William
Ludhiana, November 29, 2017: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Gobind Singh Longowal elected as the 42nd president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) is a surprise choice for the top post.
He replaces Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar as the chief of this august institution managing the Sikh religious affairs and places of worship. Till the last moments, there were strong speculations about Badungar getting another term as the president.
With his elevation, he has emerged as a favourite of the SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal who had been formally empowered by the SGPC members owing allegiance to the party a day before to select the candidate for the top post.
Longowal owes his emergence in the Akali politics to its late stalwart Sant Harchand Singh Longowal who was shot dead in 1985, three months after signing the Punjab Accord, near Longowal in Sangrur district.
Born in Longowal, the new SGPC chief, as per his Facebook Page, worked initially as an assistant -cum-driver with Sant Harchand Singh Longowal before entering active politics.
Like his mentor, he is known for simplicity, humility and ordinary living. He carried the same trait into the political arena as he remained a traditional worker type leader even after becoming an MLA and minister.
Longowal was first elected as an Akali MLA in 1985 from Dhaunala constituency and held the post of Chairman, Markfed in 1986. He represented Dhaunala constituency in 1997 and became minister in the Parkash Singh Badal-led government. In 2002, he again represented this constituency in the state Assembly during the tenure of the Congress government.
He was elected as an MLA from Dhuri constituency in Sangrur district, on the SAD ticket in the Assembly by-poll in 2015 during the SAD-BJP regime. He has also been former Chairman, District Planning Board, Sangrur.
Longowal was one of the 44 Sikh candidates of SAD and other parties, who were declared Tankahyias and punished by Akal Takht for visiting Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa asking for votes of its followers during campaign for 2017 Punjab Assembly polls.