Shiromani Akali Dal
| Shiromani Akali Dal ਸ਼ਿਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ |
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|---|---|
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| Leader | Sukhbir Singh Badal |
| Secretary-General | Daljit Singh Cheema |
| Founded | December 14, 1920 |
| Headquarters | Block #6, Madhya Marg Sector 28, Chandigarh - 160019 |
| Student wing | Sikh Students Federation |
| Official colours | Orange |
| Seats in Lok Sabha |
4 / 545
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| Seats in Rajya Sabha |
3 / 250
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| Website | |
| http://www.shiromaniakalidal.org.in | |
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Akali Dal, Punjabi: ਸ਼ਿਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ translation: Supreme Akali Party) is a Sikhism-centric political party in India, mainly active in the Indian state of Punjab and with a small presence in Haryana. The current party to be recognized by the Election Commission of India is the one led by Parkash Singh Badal. The basic philosophy of Akali Dal is to give political voice to Sikh issues (Panthic cause) and it believes that religion and politics go hand in hand but from last decade it has turned out to be a secular party.
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[edit] History
Akali Dal was formed on December 14, 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 was under Master Tara Singh that Akali Dal became a force to reckon with. The party launched the Punjabi Suba movement to create a Sikh majority state in the undivided East Punjab under the leadership of Sant Fateh Singh. In 1966, the modern-day East Punjab was formed, but its division led to bitter conflict. Akali Dal came to power in Punjab, but many times the party's governments were dismissed due to internal conflicts & minute mandate in its favor.
The Dal's chief opponent on the political front is the Indian National Congress. Its political ally in the state and at the centre is the Bharatiya Janata Party. Since the population of Punjab is about 60% Sikh and 37% Hindu, the Akali Dal needs the support of as many Hindus as the BJP can get to form lasting administrations, and the BJP needs the SAD to bring as many parliamentary seats from Punjab as it can to form a Union government. [1]
In 1999, Gurcharan Singh Tohra resigned from the Akali Dal due to differences with then-party president Parkash Singh Badal and founded a new party named Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal. In 2003, he along with the party rejoined with the Badal-led Akali Dal.
[edit] 2007 return to power
At the 2007 Punjab state elections, Akali Dal won 48 of the 117 seats, becoming the largest party in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. [2] The government is currently led by Parkash Singh Badal with the Bharatiya Janata Party as a coalition government. [3]
As of 6 March 2012, the assembly elections results for the state were declared and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) coalition won again. The formal announcement of the election results is yet to be confirmed by the Election Commission of India.
[edit] Factionalism
The Akali Dal has splintered into numerous groups, all claiming to be the successor to the original party; currently the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), headed by Sukhbir Singh Badal, is recognized by the Election Commission of India. Parkash Singh Badal will take oath as a chief minister of Shiromani Akali Dal party of Punjab state on 14 March 2012 at Chappad Chidi, Mohali.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Population by religious communities. Office of The Registrar General & Census Commissioner. 2006-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-18. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm
- ^ Statistical Report on General Election 2007. Electoral Commission of India. 2007. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2007/Stat_rep_2007_PB.pdf. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
- ^ Badal chosen SAD-BJP leader. Times of India. 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2011-11-18. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-03-01/india/27873260_1_parkash-singh-badal-malwa-bjp
[edit] Sources
- Harjinder Singh Dilgeer. Sikh Twareekh. Sikh University Press, Belgium, 2007. 5 volumes (Punjabi)
- Harjinder Singh Dilgeer. Sikh History. Sikh University Press, Belgium, 2010-11. 10 volumes
- Harjinder Singh Dilgeer. Shiromani Akali Dal (1920-2000). Sikh University Press, Belgium, 2001.
[edit] External links
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