AAP MLA Inderbir Nijjar is CKD chief
AMRITSAR: Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Amritsar South Inderbir Singh Nijjar was on Sunday elected as the president of the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD), a 118-year old Sikh organisation, by a margin of 158 votes.
A total of 329 members of the CKD, that runs more than 50 educational institutes, various human welfare institutions including orphanages, old age homes and health centres, cast their votes with secret ballot papers.
Nijjar got 243 votes, while his opponent Sarabjit Singh secured only 85 votes. One vote was cancelled.
Being a vice president of the CKD, Nijjar was working as officiating president after the death of president Nirmal Singh since March this year. The election process was completed under the supervision of returning officers Waryam Singh, Narinder Singh Khurana and Harjit Singh Tarn Taran.
A noted radiologist, Nijjar defeated his two strong opponents—inderbir Singh Bolaria (Congress) and Talbir Singh Gill (SAD) in Amritsar South during the recently held Punjab assembly elections. In 2017, he lost to Bolaria.
During CKD presidential polls, he was also supported by the members of rival political parties — Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
“All the members of the CKD should work rising above the groups and with mutual cooperation. I hope I will get cooperation from all the members in leading the organisation to new heights,” he said after being elected.