The Guru Nanak Temple in Surrey is the second largest Sikh place of worship in North America. (CBC)

A traditionalist youth party has won the leadership of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., after thousands of temple members lined up in the rain to vote on Sunday.

The Sikh Youth Slate received 13,458 votes, sweeping all 18 positions in the election, while the incumbent moderates received only 7,257 votes.

The election of new president Bikramjit Singh Sandhar means a change in direction for the second-largest Sikh temple in North America, located near the intersection of Scott Road and 72nd Avenue in Surrey, after more than a decade of more moderate leadership.

Tables, chairs could go

Traditional Sikhs abide by a religious edict that states believers must sit on the ground and share meals, and the new leaders have said they intend to follow that edict.

Before the election the campaign manager for the Sikh Youth slate, Nirbhai Pannu, said he and his fellow traditionalists have come up with a compromise. They would allow tables and chairs in the dining hall, but only for those who are physically unable to sit on mats on the floor, such as elderly members.

The traditional Sikh Youth Slate won a similar election last year, but the results were overturned because of discrepancies found in their nomination papers. Both sides then agreed to another election, which was held this weekend.

Twelve years ago, riot police were called to the temple when a bloody riot broke out between moderate and traditional Sikhs after traditional Sikhs tried to remove the tables and chairs from the temple dining area.

Moderate Sikhs disagreed with the move and kept the tables and chairs for more than a decade.