| Shiromani Akali Dal ਸ਼ਿਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ |
|
|---|---|
| Leader | Sukhbir Singh Badal |
| Secretary-General | Daljit Singh Cheema |
| Founded | December 14, 1920 |
| Headquarters | Block #6, Madhya Marg Sector 28, Chandigarh - 160019 |
| Ideology | Sikh Nationalism |
| Official colours | Orange |
| Seats in Lok Sabha |
4 / 545
|
| Seats in Rajya Sabha |
3 / 250
|
| Election symbol | |
| Website | |
| http://www.shiromaniakalidal.org.in | |
| Party flag | |
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Akali Dal), Punjabi: ਸ਼ਿਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ 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.
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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 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. [1]
In 1999, Gurcharan Singh Tohra resigned from the Akali Dal due to differences with than 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.
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]
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.
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