Parkash Singh Badal, the founder of the Shiromani Akali Dal and five-time chief minister of Punjab over seven decades of politics, passed away on Tuesday. He was 95. Badal, who had been experiencing health issues for some time, was admitted to the nearby Fortis Hospital in Mohali over a week ago after he complained of breathing difficulty.
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Over the past few years, the grand old man of Punjabi politics has been deteriorating. Following complaints of gastritis and bronchial asthma, he was admitted to the hospital in June of last year. In a Tuesday night bulletin, the Fortis Hospital stated, “Despite proper medical management, S Parkash Singh Badal passed away from his illness. The passing of is mourned deeply by Fortis Hospital Mohali.
In his hometown in Lambi in Muktsar, his final rites will be performed on Thursday in the late afternoon. On April 26 and 27, two days of national mourning were declared by the Indian government as a tribute to the late chief minister. The national flag will be flown at half-mast and there won’t be any official entertainment on days of mourning, according to a communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs to all states.
President, PM Condole Badal’s Demise
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a number of central ministers, chief ministers, and other leaders from all political parties expressed their condolences over his passing and praised his enormous contributions to the state and the nation. One of the tallest political stalwarts since independence, according to President Murmu, is Badal. “Although his stellar public service career was largely restricted to Punjab, he was respected throughout the nation. His death leaves a gaping hole. His family and supporters have my sincere condolences, the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted.
The country’s leader, Prime Minister Modi, called his passing a “personal loss” and noted that he was a titan of Indian politics and a remarkable statesman who made significant contributions to the country. Badal anchored the state and put in countless hours to advance Punjab.
Grand Old Man Of Indian Politics
In 1970, when leading a coalition government that did not serve out its full term, the grand old man of Punjabi politics first assumed the position of chief minister. He served as CM from 1977 to 1980, 1997 to 2002, 2007 to 12, and 2012 to 2017. He ran for the state assembly eleven times, losing only twice. briefly served as the Center’s Minister of Agriculture under Morarji Desai’s administration in 1977.
A sizable gathering of party members and sympathisers formed outside the hospital as word of his passing spread. Crossing party lines, a number of leaders also went to the scene to express their condolences to the grieving family. Even his political rivals loved and respected Badal because he was a statesman rather than a politician.
About Parkash Singh Badal
Badal received his education at the Forman Christian College in Lahore. He was born on December 8th, 1927 in Abul Khurana, close to Malout. His first political positions were as block samiti chairman and sarpanch of Badal village. From Malout, he was elected to the state assembly in 1957 as the candidate for Congress. On the SAD ticket, he won the Gidderbaha assembly seat in 1969.
In 1970, the SAD came together and, with the help of the Jana Sangh, formed the government. After the then-chief minister, Gurnam Singh, switched sides and joined the Congress. Even though the coalition government only held office for a little over a year. Badal subsequently became the youngest chief minister in the entire nation. When he finished his final term as CM in 2017. He was one of the oldest to have held that post.
In the 1972 elections, Badal was re-elected; however, the SAD was unable to form a government, so he was appointed leader of the opposition. In 1970–1971 and 1977–1980, Badal served as chief minister for 15 and 32 months respectively.
He won the Gidderbaha constituency once more in the 1977 elections, becoming the chief minister of the SAD-Janata Party government. In the elections held in June 1980 and September 1985. He was once more chosen to represent the Gidderbaha assembly constituency in the state assembly.
