Karnal, Jan. 29 -- Amid the ongoing lobbying among the Sikh groups to get majority for the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), 18 of the 22 independents on Tuesday announced formation of Akal Panthak Morcha.

At a meeting in Kaithal, the group also claimed support from an elected member from Didar Singh Nalvi-led Sikh Samaj Sanstha and "external support" of six elected members from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-affiliated Haryana Sikh Panthak Dal (HSPD).

In the elections for the body held on January 19, no group got a majority as most of the members for the 40-member committee that won were independents.

According to a Gazette notification by the office of the Commissioner Gurdwara Election, Haryana, maximum nine members wer...