Master Tara Singh Loses Ground

After the failure of the Punjabi Suba agitation in 1960–1, Master Tara Singh began to lose ground in Akali politics. Sant Fateh Singh attributed this failure to him, and declared that his own conception of the Akali demand was fundamentally different from that of Master Tara Singh. Throughout 1963 the Sant conducted a systematic campaign against Master Tara Singh, underlining his weakness as a leader and highlighting his own commitment to the cause of the Sikh Panth. He claimed to represent the majority of the Akalis. The success of his nominee in the election for Presidentship of the SGPC in June 1964 confirmed his claim. It appeared before the end of the year that Master Tara Singh would never recover the lost ground. Early in 1965 he left the field free for Sant Fateh Singh and went to some unknown place.