Amid opposition, Tek Singh Dhanaula takes charge as Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in low-profile ceremony

The SGPC, however, did not make any official announcement that Jathedar Dhanaula would take charge on Tuesday. Sources said this was to avoid a fresh controversy considering recent developments and opposition from some quarters.

On March 10, there was high drama when Giani Kuldeep Singh took charge as the Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib amid opposition from some Nihang bodies and the Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal. Subsequently, the SGPC had to reschedule the ceremony for Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, who was appointed as the Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib as some Sikh bodies had threatened to oppose it.

Tek Singh Dhanaula: a politician-turned-Jathedar

Tek Singh Dhanaula was the former district president of the Shiromani Akali Dali (SAD) in Barnala.

A former SGPC member, Dhanaula had lost the 2011 elections to the committee to an SAD candidate. A member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal), he had joined the Congress in 2011. Later, he returned to the SAD and became its Barnala district president in 2020.

Dhanaula was seen as former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa’s rival in Barnala. After the police arrested him in 2010, Dhanaula accused Dhindsa of political vendetta as the SAD government was in power at the time. He joined the SAD after Dhindsa reportedly developed differences with Sukhbir Singh Badal.

In April 2022, Dhanaula sacked SGPC member Baldev Singh Chunga from the SAD for alleged anti-party activities.

In February 2024, Dhanaula took over as the head of the Sikh religious sect Mastuana.

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