Sources say Bhai Ranjit Singh, who is leaving for Washington on January 7 for a 12-day tour, left for New Delhi last evening without informing the SGPC. Tohra was scheduled to meet Bhai Ranjit Singh here today but he followed him to New Delhi.

SGPC sources say that a meeting in Anandpur Sahib on January 7 presided over by Tohra's rival Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and involving the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) executive committee, MLAs and SGPC members, may turn the tables on the SGPC chief.

Tohra may also have it tough at the monthly meeting of the SGPC executive committee -- also scheduled for the second week of January -- since Badal is determined to see that all the 10 members on his side arepresent at the meeting.

The Badal group forms a majority in the SGPC executive. The executive may, by majority vote, adopt a resolution to expel Tohra. Under the rules, the executive is bound to place such a resolution in its next monthly meeting even if it is rejected by the president this time.

Tohra had expected that before leaving for the US, Bhai Ranjit Singh would issue an edict to Akal Takht to curb Akali Dal infighting and also issue an edict against a Jalandhar-based Punjabi daily for launching an alleged campaign against Tohra. The Jathedar, however, surprised everyone by his sudden departure.

The long absence of Bhai Ranjit Singh from the scene is expected to rebound on Tohra, who mainly depends upon the Akal Takht for support.

Bhai Ranjit Singh is expected to return on January 22.