Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Following the alleged suicide of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) president Mahant Narendra Giri, speculations are being made as to who will succeed him as the next president. In this connection, the working president will be elected unanimously by convening an emergency meeting of the Parishad. During the meeting, a date for the selection of the new president will also be fixed.
Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad is one of the country’s largest groups of Hindu seers. Elections in the Parishad are conducted under a completely democratic system. The elections are conducted after the consent of 13 Akharas and are done on the basis of a majority in the presence of representatives of these Akharas. A meeting of the Parishad is held, after which the representatives of the 13 akharas are invited to elect the president. The presence or consent of the representatives of all the 13 akharas is mandatory.
The Akhara Parishad deals with a variety of issues ranging from the organisation of the Kumbh Melas to the boycott of any seer or saint found involved in impropriety.
Mahant Narendra Giri first took over as the president in 2016 and was re-elected in 2019, and before the 2021 Haridwar Kumbh.
READ: Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Narendra Giri passes away
During his first term, Mahant Narendra Giri was also considered to have played an important role in organising the Kumbh held in Prayagraj in a divine and grand manner in 2019. During the time, he got the construction done on the akharas done after getting financial help from the government.
Although the office bearers of the akhara have a tenure of 6 years, elections can be held in the middle of the terms, if a situation arises. Also, if a no-confidence motion is passed, the president can be removed from his post.
There are a total of 13 akharas in Sanatan Dharma, which include the akharas of Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Udsasin Akhara.
1- Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani, 2- Shri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani, 3-Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara, 4- Avahan Akhara, 5- Panch Dashnam Atal Akhara, 6- Panch Dashnam Anand Akhara Panchayati, 7- Panchadashanam Agni Akhara, 8- Digambar Ani Akhara, 9- Panch Nirmohi Ani Akhara, 10- Shri Nirvani Ani Akhara, 11- Nirmal Panchayati Akhara, 12- Panchayati Akhara 13- Panchayati Akhara.
