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Shiromani Akali Dal, a Sikh

Sikh

A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...

 political party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 in the India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n state of Punjab. One of several splinter groups of Shiromani Akali Dal

Shiromani Akali Dal

The Shiromani 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...

 launched by Captain Amarinder Singh

Amarinder Singh

Captain Amarinder Singh . He served as the Chief Minister of Punjab from 2002 to 2007 and presently serves as the President of Punjab PCC. He currently resides in New Moti Bagh Palace, Patiala.-Personal life:...

 in 1991. Singh was an Akali moderate, who opposed the Khalistan

Khalistan

Khalistan refers to a global political secessionist movement to create a separate Sikh state, called Khālistān , carved out of parts mostly consisting of the Punjab region of India, depending on definition....

 militancy.

In January 1992 SAD (Panthik) merged with the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal)

Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal)

Shiromani Akali Dal is a splinter group of the Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal. The party was launched on June 7, 2004. Its president is Surjit Kaur Barnala .Prem Singh Chandumajra joined it after being denied a ticked by Shiromani Akali Dal...

. Amarinder however felt marginalized, and in February 1997 the SAD (Panthik) was re-launched. On September 12, 1997 SAD (Panthik) merged with 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...

and Amarinder Singh became the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) replacing Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.