Shiromani Akali Dal
Encyclopedia
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Akali Dal), translation
: Supreme Akali
Party) is a Sikh nationalist political parties based in Punjab
. 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.
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 by the Indian National Congress
ruling at the federal level.
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 Punjab is about 65% Sikh, 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.
, Akali Dal won 48 of the 117 seats, becoming the largest party in the Punjab Legislative Assembly
. The government is currently led by Parkash Singh Badal with the Bharatiya Janata Party as a coalition government
.
, is recognized by the Election Commission of India.
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: Supreme Akali
Akali
In the context of Sikhism, Akali may refer to:*any member of the Khalsa, i.e. the collective body of baptized Sikhs*a term for Nihangs*a politician of the Akali Dal political parties...
Party) is a Sikh nationalist political parties based in Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
. The current party to be recognized by the Election Commission of India
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in 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.
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 a 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 SinghMaster Tara Singh
Master Tara Singh Malhotra was a prominent Sikh political and religious leader in the first half of the 20th century...
that Akali Dal became a force to reckon with. The party launched the Punjabi Suba
Punjabi Suba
Punjabi Suba was a proposed state in northwest India. It was proposed by Shiromani Akali Dal in 1966. The Punjabi Suba movement resulted in the trifurcation of the East Punjab into three states: Punjab , Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.-References:...
movement to create a Sikh majority state in the undivided East Punjab
East Punjab
East Punjab was the part of the Punjab region that went to India following the Partition of the Punjab Province of British India between India and Pakistan in 1947...
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 by the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
ruling at the federal level.
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
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
. Since Punjab is about 65% Sikh, 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.
2007 Return to Power
At the 2007 Punjab state electionsState Assembly elections in India, 2007
The State Assembly elections in India, 2007 took place between 08 February 2007 and 23 February 2007. The Indian States of Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand went to the polls....
, Akali Dal won 48 of the 117 seats, becoming the largest party in the Punjab Legislative Assembly
Punjab Legislative Assembly
The Punjab Legislative Assembly or the Punjab Vidhan Sabha is the unicameral legislature of the state of Punjab in northern India. At present, it consists of 117 members, directly elected from 117 single-seat constituencies. The tenure of the legislative assembly is five years, unless sooner...
. The government is currently led by Parkash Singh Badal with the Bharatiya Janata Party as a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
.
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 BadalSukhbir Singh Badal
Sukhbir Singh Badal ' is President of Shiromani Akali Dal political party. He is the son of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal...
, is recognized by the Election Commission of India.
See also
- Splinter groups of the Akali DalShiromani Akali Dal (disambiguation)-Other factions in Punjab:*Shiromani Akali Dal led by Sardar Kuldip Singh Wadala*Shiromani Akali Dal founded on principles of late Sardar Harchand Singh Longowal, former President of the original Shiromani Akali Dal...
- SikhismSikhismSikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
- Tara Singh Malhotra
- Babu Labh Singh
- AkaliAkaliIn the context of Sikhism, Akali may refer to:*any member of the Khalsa, i.e. the collective body of baptized Sikhs*a term for Nihangs*a politician of the Akali Dal political parties...
Sources
- Harjinder Singh Dilgeer. Sikh Twareekh. Sikh University Press, Belgium, 2007. 5 volumes
- 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.