Shiromani Akali Dal

Shiromani Akali Dal
PresidentSukhbir Singh Badal
Lok Sabha LeaderHarsimrat Kaur Badal
Founded14 December 1920 (103 years ago) (1920-12-14)
HeadquartersBlock #6, Madhya Marg
Sector 28, Chandigarh
NewspaperAkali Awaaz
Student wingStudent Organisation of India
Youth wingYouth Akali Dal
Women's wingIstri Akali Dal
Labour wingShiromani Akali Dal SC wing
Peasant's wingShiromani Akali Dal BC wing
IdeologyPunjabiyat
Punjabi nationalism
Conservatism
Federalism
Political positionCentre-right
Colours Navy Blue & Saffron
ECI StatusState Party
AllianceSAD+BSP (2021-Present)
SAD+INLD (2021-Present) National Democratic Alliance (1998–2020)
Seats in Lok Sabha
2 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
0 / 245
Seats in Punjab Legislative Assembly
3 / 117
Election symbol
Weighing Balance
Website
www.shiromaniakalidal.com

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (translation: Supreme Army of God) is a centre-right Sikh-centric state political party in Punjab, India. The party is the second-oldest in India, after Congress, being founded in 1920. Although there are many parties with the description Akali Dal, the party that is recognized as "Shiromani Akali Dal" by the Election Commission of India is the one led by Sukhbir Singh Badal. The party has a moderate Punjabi agenda. On 26 September 2020, they left the NDA over the farm bills.

History

British India

Akali Dal was formed on 14 December 1920 as a task force of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the Sikh religious body. The Akali Dal considers itself the principal representative of Sikhs. Sardar Sarmukh Singh Chubbal was the first president of a unified proper Akali Dal, but it became popular under Master Tara Singh. Akali movement influenced 30 new Punjabi newspapers launched between 1920 and 1925.

In the provincial election of 1937, the Akali Dal won 10 seats. The Khalsa Nationalists won 11 seats and joined the coalition government headed by the Unionist leader Sikander Hyat Khan. The Akalis sat in opposition and made occasional forays into reaching an understanding with the Muslim League, which never reached fruition.

In the provincial election of 1946, the Akali Dal won 22 seats and joined the coalition government headed by the Unionist Khizar Hayat Khan Tiwana, along with the Indian National Congress. The Muslim League was unable to capture power, despite having won the largest number of seats, which perhaps suited it fine as it strengthened its Pakistan demand. The Muslim League launched a civil disobedience campaign, bringing down the Tiwana government by March 1947. The rest of the period till Indian independence was filled by Governor's Rule.

As with other Sikh organisations, Master Tara Singh and his Akali Dal strongly opposed the partition of Punjab, which he thought would create an environment of possible persecution as they supported the idea of “Azad Punjab”(Free Punjab).

Post Independence India

In the 1950s, the party launched the Punjabi Suba movement, demanding a state with majority of Punjabi speaking people, out of undivided East Punjab under the leadership of Sant Fateh Singh. In 1966, the present Punjab was formed. Akali Dal came to power in the new Punjab in March 1967, but early governments didn't live long due to internal conflicts and power struggles within the party. Later, party strengthened and party governments completed full term.

Modern Factions

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa along with other Akali leaders came together at a Gurdwara in Ludhiana on July 7, 2020 to re-establish SAD (D).Dhindsa was chosen as president of the revived political party. He claimed SAD (D) as the true Shiromani Akali Dal and that the one so called was taken over by the Badal family.

Prior to this in late 2018, expelled senior members of Shiromani Akali Dal Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Rattan Singh Ajnala, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, their relatives and others had formed SAD (T). The reasoning of the expelling was due to their accusations of the Badal family steering Shiromani Akali Dal in the wrong path.

Ahead of the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, both SAD (T) and SAD (D) were dissolved to be merged together into a new political party by the name of Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt). This party entered into the National Democratic Alliance to contest the Punjab elections alongside the candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party.[citation needed]

Ideology

Shiromani Akali Dal's main goals are the protection of Sikh rights, Punjab's waters, and opposition to the Sutlej Yamuna link canal.

1996 Moga Conference

In 1996, at a historic conference in Moga, Shiromani Akali Dal adopted a moderate Punjabi agenda and shifted party headquarters from Amritsar to Chandigarh.

Party presidents

Following is the list of presidents of the party as given on party website.

S. No. Name Portrait Term Start Term End
1 Sarmukh Singh Jhabal ? 14 December 1920 ?
2 Kharak Singh ? ?
3 Master Tara Singh ? ?
4 Gopal Singh Qaumi ? ?
5 Tara Singh Thethar ? ? ?
6 Teja Singh Akarpuri ? ?
7 Babu Labh Singh ? ? ?
8 Udham Singh Nagoke ? ?
9 Giani Kartar Singh ? ? ?
10 Pritam Singh Gojran (Gujjran Sangrur) ? ? ?
11 Hukam Singh ? ?
12 Fateh Singh ? ? ?
13 Achar Singh ? ? ?
14 Bhupinder Singh ? ? ?
15 Mohan Singh Tur ? ?
16 Jagdev Singh Talwandi ? ?
17 Harchand Singh Longowal ? 20 August 1985
18 Surjit Singh Barnala ? ?
19 Parkash Singh Badal ? 2008
20 Sukhbir Singh Badal 2008 Incumbent

Current Members in Houses

House Current Members Leader
Union Parliament
Lok Sabha 2 S. S. Badal
State Legislature
Punjab Legislative Assembly 3/117 Manpreet Singh Ayali

Punjab Chief Ministers belonging to Akali Dal

Chief Ministers In office
Gurnam Singh (17 February 1969 – 27 March 1970)
Parkash Singh Badal (27 March 1970 – 14 June 1971)
( 20 June 1977 – 17 February 1980)
(12 February 1997 – 26 February 2002)
(1 March 2007 – 16 March 2017)
Surjit Singh Barnala (29 September 1985 – 11 June 1987)

In general elections

Year General election Seats won Change in # of seats Percentage of vote Vote swing
1945 Indian general election 6th Central Legislative Assembly 2 Increase 2
1951 Indian general election 1st Lok Sabha 4 0.99%
1957 Indian general election 2nd Lok Sabha 0 Decrease4
1962 Indian general election 3rd Lok Sabha 3 Increase3 0.72%
1967 Indian general election 4th Lok Sabha 0[better source needed] Decrease3
1971 Indian general election 5th Lok Sabha 1 Increase1 0.87%
1977 Indian general election 6th Lok Sabha 9 Increase8 1.26%
1980 Indian general election 7th Lok Sabha 1 Decrease 8 0.71%
1984 Indian general election 8th Lok Sabha 7 Increase 7 17.9%
1989 Indian general election 9th Lok Sabha 0 Decrease7
1991 Indian general election 10th Lok Sabha 0 Steady
1996 Indian general election 11th Lok Sabha 8 Increase 8 0.76%
1998 Indian general election 12th Lok Sabha 8 Steady 0.81%
1999 Indian general election 13th Lok Sabha 2 Decrease 6 25.58%
2004 Indian general election 14th Lok Sabha 8 Increase 6 34.28%
2009 Indian general election 15th Lok Sabha 4 Decrease 4 0.96%
2014 Indian general election 16th Lok Sabha 4 Steady 20.30% Decrease 13.55%
2019 Indian general election 17th Lok Sabha 2 Decrease 2

In state elections

Punjab

Haryana

Delhi

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-03-07 13:57 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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