The Guru Nanak Sikh temple's president-elect is Amardeep Singh Deol, a 26-year-old software engineer. (Meera Bains/CBC)

A young but traditional Sikh has been elected to lead one of the Lower Mainland's largest and most moderate Sikh temples, and that has some of the older members concerned.

The Guru Nanak Sikh temple's president-elect is Amardeep Singh Deol, a 26-year-old software engineer, who campaigned on a promise to abide by an edict issued in India for Sikhs to eat sitting on the ground to practice humility.

The temple on 120th Street in Surrey was the site of a violent clash over the use of tables and chairs in the temple dining room 11 years ago.

Moderate Sikhs won out in the 1998 temple election and kept the tables and chairs, but now people are upset that their furniture is about to go.

Deol beat out two moderate candidates in the temple elections on Sunday by more than 1,200 votes, but the young leader said he has no plans for a confrontation, and the real issue is how to attract young people to the temples.

"We definitely don't anticipate any sort of violence we've had in the past. Like we said, the community has really come together and they've really shown that," said Deol on Monday.

Some seniors want tables and chairs

But Temple member Rai Singh said Deol needs to consider the needs of seniors.

"It's hard for them to be sitting on the floor and getting up again and again like that," said Singh.

The outgoing moderate president, Balwant Gill who was injured in the 1997 fight at the temple had some advice.

"They shouldn't take any step without consulting the congregation. Still, this issue is a very sensitive issue," said Gill, who said he plans to co-operate with new management when they take over on January 1.