India, March 10 -- Once again, the Sikh politics finds itself in a familiar mess. The correct description, however, is Akali politics as the community's political spectrum is not limited to any one party - not even to several parties claiming to be Panthic.

There are Sikhs in every political party. As a matter of fact, except in 1985, 1989 and 1997, more Sikhs seem to have voted for political parties other than all the 'Panthic' parties put together, including Akalis.

Of these, the 1985 and 1989 polls were held following extraordinary events and under circumstances which can barely be described as normal. And in 1997, the Akali wave cut across all communities and cannot be described purely as a Panthic wave.

Shifting nature of loyaltie...