The Sikh community in Gravesham has elected a new president of the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.

Ajaib Singh Cheema was chosen to be Mukh Sewadar of the Sikh temple on Sunday evening.

An election for the leadership role took place on Sunday, with votes being cast from 9am.

Two candidates stood, Sukhdev Singh and Ajaib Singh Cheema, who surpassed his competitor with 500 more votes.

Ajaib said: “I am very grateful to Waheguru Ji [God] and to the Sangat [congregation] of Gravesham who have given me the huge honour of serving them as Mukh Sewadar for another two years.

“I will do my very best to serve the whole community, not just those who voted for me.”

The 62-year-old will succeed Manpreet Singh Dhaliwal who chose to step down from the role after two terms.

Manpreet made history as the temple’s youngest Mukh Sewadar and led the gurdwara through the pandemic.

He said: “It has been a huge honour and a privilege to serve the Sangat of this gurdwara for four years.

“I congratulate Ajaib Singh Cheema on his election for the next two years, during which he will have my full support.”

Ajaib has lived in Gravesend for most of his life and has played a pivotal role in the area’s Sikh community.

From a young age he has dedicated himself to the temple and since 1988 has taken on various roles in the gurdwara committee.

Ajaib is also no stranger to the role of Mukh Sewadar after undertaking the position from 2017 to 2020.

He will now serve again as president of the largest gurdwara in Europe for the next two years, until the next election.

Ajaib said: “We will continue to work as a team and carry on with the good work of the past six years, as well as new projects to support the community.

“I want to carry on bringing together the wisdom of elders and the new skills of the young and to develop this gurdwara into a leading Sikh institution, nationally and internationally, that we can all be proud of.”