OPINION | Akal Takht’s ‘Guru Dokhi’ Verdict Rocks AAP: Can Bhagwant Mann Retain Sikh Support Ahead Of 2027?

Summary

The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, has declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann a Guru Dokhi, or opponent of the Khalsa Panth, due to a verified video showing a man resembling him disrespecting Sikh Gurus. This unprecedented move has urged the Sikh community to socially and religiously boycott Mann, posing a significant challenge to the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. The ruling party's reliance on Sikh voters, who comprise about fifty-eight percent of the population, makes this verdict a major threat to their political stronghold in the state.