Shiromani Akali Dal Before Parkash Singh Badal, And The Way Ahead

Shiromani Akali Dal, which is already dealing with factional fights and defecting leaders, will find it hard to fill the void left behind by the death of its patriarch Parkash Singh Badal.

Parkash Singh Badal's leadership will be sorely missed in the SAD. ( Image Source :AFP )

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is one of the oldest political parties in India, with a history and legacy dating back to pre-Independence era. In fact, it is the second-oldest party of India. Its patriarch, Parkash Singh Badal, played a pivotal role in shaping the party and its principles over the years. However, with Badal's death, there is a concern regarding the future of SAD.

Parkash Singh Badal had been synonymous with SAD for several decades, and his vision and leadership helped the party withstand the test of time. He has guided the party through some of the most turbulent periods in Indian politics, and his influence has been felt not only in his home state of Punjab but also on the national scale.

There is no doubt that his absence will leave a significant void within the party, and there are concerns that the party may lose its focus or direction without his guidance.

One of the likely outcomes of Badal's death could be infighting within the party over leadership positions. There could be differences in opinions about the direction that the party should take, which could lead to a breakdown of unity within SAD. This could pave the way for the rise of new regional parties or impact the party's electoral performance. The SAD was already fighting factional feuds, with Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura first breaking away and then coming together to form a new party, the SAD (Sanyukt), last year. 

With less than a month to go for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency bypoll, former leader Inder Iqbal Singh 'Rinku' left the SAD earlier this month to join the BJP. Earlier, two-time former MLA from Ajnala and son of veteran Akali leader Rattan Singh Ajnala Amarpal Singh Bony resigned from the party, complaining of poor leadership.

Meanwhile, some political observers also believe that SAD could emerge stronger in the aftermath of Badal's death. The party has a pool of senior leaders who have been groomed by Badal over the years, and they might be able to take the party forward in the same spirit and direction set by Badal. Leaders like Charanjit Singh Atwal, Bibi Upinderjit Kaur, and Kirpal Singh Badungar, who already are shouldering core roles in the party will have to step up. Apart from them, those among the senior vice-presidents like Mantar Singh Brar, Jagbir Singh Brar, Harmeet Singh Sandhu, and others will also have key roles to play after the passing of Parkash Singh Badal as his son Sukhbir Singh Badal tries to steer the party.

 

Moreover, the party has a solid base of support among the rural populace in Punjab, which could ensure its continued relevance in the political landscape of the state.

 

PARKASH SINGH BADAL, THE MAN WHO RARELY TASTED DEFEAT

Badal was a freedom fighter who had been jailed during India's struggle for independence. He was a 10-term MLA and a 5-term Chief Minister of Punjab.

In his last days, Badal had written an open letter, criticising the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for including his name in a murder conspiracy charge. He had vowed to fight against the "tyranny of the government" even at the age of 95. Badal had been spending most of his time at his farm.

Badal had entered politics when he was elected as a sarpanch in his hometown of Badal in 1947. He had been a Congress member, but he had later joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after the emergency in 1977. Badal was a shrewd politician who had rarely tasted defeat, losing only two elections in his long tenure in politics.

Badal was an expert in Panthic politics, but he had made necessary adjustments when required. In 1996, he had led the partnership of Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP to defeat the Congress. Badal had replaced the Panthic agenda with 'Punjabiyat', which was acceptable to the moderate Sikhs and the RSS, who believed in "Keshdhari Hindus" ideology. This ability of Badal to bring people together and stand out as an indomitable leader will be a quality sorely missed in SAD.

Badal had been criticised for not doing enough politically to help the Sikhs heal after the 1984 riots. He was accused of protecting IPS officers who allegedly killed youths in fake encounters. Human rights violations and extrajudicial killings during militancy in Punjab were allegedly not adequately addressed during his terms as CM.