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Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)

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Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
AbbreviationSAD(A)
PresidentSimranjit Singh Mann
Founded1 May 1994; 32 years ago (1994-05-01)
Split fromShiromani Akali Dal
HeadquartersQuilla S. Harnam Singh, Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, India
Student wingSikh Students Federation
Youth wingYouth Akali Dal Amritsar
IdeologyHard-line Sikh nationalism[1][2]
Sikh minority rights[3]
Political positionRight wing[4][5]
Colours  Yellow   Blue
ECI StatusRegistered
Seats in Rajya Sabha
0 / 245
Seats in Lok Sabha
0 / 543
Seats in Punjab Legislative Assembly
0 / 117
Election symbol
Party flag
Website
akalidalamritsar.in

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) is a hard-line Sikh nationalist political party led by Simranjit Singh Mann,[6][7] it is a splinter group of the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, India. They use 'Balti', the Punjabi term for bucket as their official election symbol. Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) was formed on 1 May 1994. The party has seen a resurgence in support after the death of Deep Sidhu who was a supporter and seen as sympathetic to the cause of Simranjit Singh Mann. [8][9] Their 2022 Lok Sabha victory after more than two decades was viewed as a resurgence in a political vacuum due to collapse of other traditional political parties in Punjab. However, it failed to retain the seat in 2024.[10][11][12] The last major victory for Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) was in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, where the party and their allies won 10 out of 13 seats from Punjab.[13]

Electoral success

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The party's most significant success was in the 1989 Indian general elections when they won six out of the 13 seats in Punjab.[14] The party espouses the ideology of Punjabiyat and Sikh nationalism. Moreover, the party won the parliamentary seat of Sangrur in 1999 and 2022 (by-elections). Also, Mann emphasized his priority will be to "work with the Punjab government" to "raise the poor economic condition of Sangrur including the condition of farmers under debt".[15] The party contested the SGPC elections on the same plank and won three seats.[16]

The only time an MLA belonging to SAD (A) was ever elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly was in the election of 1997 when Sardar Ajit Inder Singh won from the constituency of Sardulgarh by defeating the Shiromani Akali Dal candidate by 3,117 votes.

History and ideology

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Akali politics in post-colonial India have organized around advancing and protecting Sikh political and cultural interests and Punjabi language.[17] By 1973, the Akali's adopted the Anandpur Sahib Resolution a document which advanced a desire for increasing regional autonomy within India's centralized structure of governance, as well as various socio political conerens.[17]

From 1975 to 1977, the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi would institute a state of emergency suspending elections and civil liberties. During the early phases of the emergency, Akali and Sikh parties would meet in Amritsar to resist the "fascist tendency of the Congress".[18] The Akali Dal would launch the "Campaign to Save Democracy".[18] However, the period would see widespread human rights abuses including the mass detention of dissidents and opposition; forced sterilizations; constitutional modifications; demolition of homes and displacement of people and suspension of the press.

Following the end of the emergency from 1977 to 1984, the Akali Dal would be re-elected in Punjab and constitute the main opposition to the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government. The period would see an increase in Punjabi nationalism.[17] The party would continue to organize around the adoption of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.[17] The central government would treat the Anandpur Sahib Resolution as a secessionist document, eventually culminating in Operation Blue Star, an invasion of Golden Temple on 1 June 1984. The operation would result in mass civilian casualties and precipitate an insurgency in Punjab for the formation of Khalistan. The Khalistan movement would be brutally suppressed by the central Indian state leading to mass human rights violations including extrajudicial executions, torture, and mass detention.[17]

On 1 May 1994, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) split from the traditional Shiromani Akali Dal.[17] While there are overlaps in ideology between the two parties, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) remains more radical than its predecessor. The party continues to advocate for increasing the autonomy of the state of Punjab.[19] Moreover, the party continues to advocate for the Anandpur Sahib Resolution which proposed several religious, economic and political aims for the state of Punjab.[20] In 2003, the party sided with the Dalit activists protesting against a social-boycott launched by Jatts against them in Talhan village.[21] The party opposes the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal noting the canal violates the state's riparian water rights and will accelerate ongoing desertification.[22] The party has also been critical of extrajudicial killings, torture and genocide of Sikhs by governmental authorities in the 1980-90s. Upon winning the seat in 2022, Simranjit Singh Mann gave credit to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.[23]

The Mann family can be paired with the Shiromani Akali Dal's Badal and Majithia families through their association with dynastic politics.[24] Large leaders in the Panthic political sphere are generally sidelined like Daljit Singh Bittu, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, Amritpal Singh Mehron and others.[25][26] When there was a inter-party debate on who would be the next leader of the party, Simranjit Singh Mann chose his son Emaan Singh Mann over long-time party worker Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala who was made to leave soon afterwards.[27][28][29]

Office holders

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President Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
S.No. Portrait Name
(born /death)		 Party Officer
(Presidents)		 Term in office
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 Simranjit Singh Mann
born 20 May 1945		 President Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) 1 May 1994 Incumbent 32 years, 71 days

Anandpur Sahib Resolution

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In short, the Anandpur Sahib Resolution aimed to: reiterate the separateness of the Sikh tradition from Hinduism; increase the devolution of power from the central government to the states, to provide states with more autonomy; eradicate poverty and starvation through increased production and a more equitable distribution of wealth and also the establishment of a just social order sans exploitation of any kind; remove discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or any other ground; and combat disease and ill health by reducing the use of intoxicants and provision of full facilities for the growth of physical well-being.[20]

Punjab Electoral performance

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Lok Sabha

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The Lok Sabha, also known as the House of the People, is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of India, where the upper house is Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-past-the-post system to represent their respective constituencies, and they hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the president of India on the advice of the union council of ministers. The house meets in the Lok Sabha chamber of the Parliament House in New Delhi.

Members of the Lok Sabha
Election Year Leader seats contested seats won +/- in seats Overall votes votes % +/- in vote share Sitting side
1989 Simranjit Singh Mann 13
6 / 13
 New entry 2,318,872 0.77% New entry Others
1991 Boycotted the elections[30][31][32]
1996 6
0 / 13
 Steady 339,520 0.10% Steady Others
1998 3
0 / 13
 Steady 248,529 0.07% Steady Others
1999 3
1 / 13
 Increase 1 298,846 3.4% Increase 1.4% Others
2004 6
0 / 13
 Decrease 3,87,682 3.79% Increase 0.38% Others
2009
0 / 13
 Steady 43,137 0.01% Others
2014 3
0 / 13
 Steady 35,516 0.01% Steady Others
2019 2
0 / 13
 Steady 52,185 0.38% Steady Others
2022-23 By-election 2
1 / 2
 Increase 1 2,73,520 35.61% Increase 35.1% Others
2024 12
0 / 13
 Steady 517,024 3.84% Increase 3.44% Others

List of Members of the Lok Sabha

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Sr. No. Portrait Member of Parliament Elecation Year Constituency Winner Margin Term in office
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 Simranjit Singh Mann
born 20 May 1945		 2022-23 By-election Sangrur 6,245✓ 26 June 2022 4 June 2024 1 year, 344 days
1999 86,317✓ 6 October 1999 13 May 2004 4 years, 220 days
1989 Tarn Taran 4,80,417✓ 2 December 1989 13 March 1991 1 year, 101 days
2 Rajinder Kaur Bulara
born 10 June 1946		 1989 Ludhiana 1,33,729✓ 2 December 1989 13 March 1991 1 year, 101 days
3 Jagdev Singh Khudian
(born 1937– death 1989)		 1989 Faridkot 157,383✓ 2 December 1989 28 December 1989 26 days
4 Baba Sucha Singh
(died 26 January 2007)		 1989 Bathinda 113,490✓ 2 December 1989 13 March 1991 1 year, 101 days
5 Dhian Singh Mand
(born 3 May 1961)		 1989 Firozpur 200,000✓ 2 December 1989 13 March 1991 1 year, 101 days
6 Bimal Kaur Khalsa
(born 7 November 1950 – death 2 September 1991)		 1989 Ropar 2,30,576✓ 2 December 1989 13 March 1991 1 year, 101 days

Punjab Legislative Assembly Elections

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The Punjab Legislative Assembly or the Punjab Vidhan Sabha is the unicameral legislature of the state of Punjab in India. The Sixteenth Punjab Legislative Assembly was constituted in March 2022. At present, it consists of 117 members, directly elected from 117 single-seat constituencies. The tenure of the Legislative Assembly is five years unless dissolved sooner. The Speaker of the sixteenth assembly is Kultar Singh Sandhwan. The meeting place of the Legislative Assembly since 6 March 1961 is the Vidhan Bhavan in Chandigarh.

Punjab Legislative Assembly elections
Election Year Leader seats contested seats won +/- in seats Overall votes % of overall votes +/- in vote share Sitting side
1997 Simranjit Singh Mann 30
1 / 117
 Increase 1 3,19,111 3.10% Increase 3.10% Others
2002 84
0 / 117
 Decrease 1 4,78,115 4.60% Increase 1.50 Others
2007 37
0 / 117
 - 4,68,901 4.50% Decrease 0.10 Others
2012 57
0 / 117
 - 1,82,861 2.73% Decrease 1.36 Others
2017 54
0 / 117
 - 49,260 0.3% Decrease 1.06 Others
2022 81
0 / 117
 - 386,176 2.48% Increase 2.18 Others

List of Punjab Assembly election, 1997

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Sr. No. Portrait Member of Legislative Assembly Constituency Term in office
Winner Margin Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 Ajit Inder Singh
20 May 1945		 Sardulgarh 3,117✓ 12 February 1997 13 February 2002 5 years, 1 day

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Simranjit Mann Khalistan advocate back in Parliament after two decades". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 26 June 2022.
  2. ↑ "Khalistani Sikhs are not terrorist:SAD(A)". The Times of India. 4 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Central government is anti-minorities: Simranjit Singh Mann". Hindustan Times. 27 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Will Simranjit Singh Mann's Sangrur Lok Sabha Bypoll Win Give Second Wind to Extremist Politics in Punjab?".
  5. ↑ "Subverting A Popular Movement: How The Sarbat Khalsa Was Hijacked By Radical Sikh Bodies".
  6. ↑ "Punjab police laid a seize around Simranjit Singh Mann's residence". Punjab News Express. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Vasudeva, Vikas (27 June 2022). "Simranjit Singh Mann's win may boost 'Akali politics', hardliners". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "Explained: 5 reasons why Simranjit Singh Mann defeated AAP in Sangrur, CM Bhagwant Mann's bastion". The Indian Express. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  9. ↑ SCAPEGOAT : Sidhu Moose Wala | Official Audio | Mxrci | New Song 2022, retrieved 13 September 2023
  10. ↑ https://www.oneindia.com/sangrur-lok-sabha-election-result-331/
  11. ↑ Dey, Abhishek (29 June 2022). "What comeback of Simranjit Singh Mann, a vocal Khalistan advocate, means for Punjab politics". ThePrint. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Does Mann's win signal return of pro-Khalistan sentiments?". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "People of Punjab cast a negative vote against Congress(I)". India Today. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Election results – full statistical report
  15. ↑ "'Sangrur Lok Sabha Byelection Result 2022: SAD (Amritsar) candidate Simranjit Singh Mann wins big in AAP stronghold'". Financial Express. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "SADA – Shromani Akalidal Amritsar Official Website". Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Singh, Pritnam (2014). "Class, nation and religion: changing nature of Akali Dal politics in Punjab, India". Commonwealth & Comparative Politics. Parties and Political Change in South Asia (1): 55–77. doi:10.1080/14662043.2013.867689. S2CID 55864307. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  18. 1 2 Grewal, J.S. (1991). The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139053365. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Amritpal Singh Mehron(Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)(Simranjit Singh Mann)):Constituency- TARN TARAN(TARN TARAN) - Affidavit Information of Candidate". myneta.info. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  20. 1 2 Singh, Amarinder (1995). Siṅgh, Harbans (ed.). Anandpur Sāhib Resolution (4th ed.). Patiala, Punjab, India: Punjab University, Patiala, 2002. pp. 133–141. ISBN 9788173801006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  21. ↑ Jodhka, Surinder S. (12 July 2003). "Caste Tensions in Punjab: Talhan and Beyond". Economic and Political Weekly. 38 (28): 2925. doi:10.2307/4413770 – via Research Gate.
  22. ↑ "'Won't share state's water': Desertification fear unites parties in Punjab". 24 January 2020.
  23. ↑ "'Who Gave Blood for Sikhs': SAD-A's Simranjit Mann Credits Win to Khalistani Militant Bhindranwale". News18. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  24. ↑ "https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/barring-simranjit-singh-mann-all-sad-a-candidates-forfeit-security-deposits-101717614445882.html". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  25. ↑ "https://www.oneindia.com/2007/08/26/mann-expels-bittu-13-others-from-party-1188142464.html". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  26. ↑ Menon, Aditya (4 June 2024). "Lok Sabha Result 2024: Amritpal, Sarabjeet Set to Win & Shake Up Punjab Politics". TheQuint. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  27. ↑ "Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala, Independent Representative for Firozpur, Punjab - Candidate Overview | 2024 Lok Sabha Elections". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  28. ↑ "Thwarted, 'Sarbat Khalsa' leaders call for Badals' boycott". The Times of India. 9 December 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  29. ↑ "https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/radical-body-plans-event-security-up-in-nijjar-s-native-village-in-punjab-101695670926424.html". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  30. ↑ "Sikhs to boycott Punjab elections - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  31. ↑ Hazarika, Sanjoy (19 February 1992). "Sikh Militants in Punjab Impose Boycotts on Work and on Voting". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  32. ↑ Fineman, Mark (20 February 1992). "Few Defy Sikhs to Vote in Punjab : India: The 25% turnout clouds New Delhi's hopes of ending the anarchy and restoring the elected government". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
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