The Sher group, led by Gurmail Singh Malhi, had defeated the Baaj group with a margin of 606 votes. There were as many as 7125 votes polled in the September elections, demonstrating the perceived significance of the decision.
The Sher group had previously won elections in 2008, and had formed the Management Committee until 2011. Since then, the Baaj group, headed by Himmat Singh Sohi, had been managing the affairs of the Gurdwara.