Parkash Singh Badal : 5 things to know about 5-time Punjab CM

Former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, who was admitted at a private hospital in Mohali, died on Tuesday, hospital officials and party sources said. He was 95. He was the last surviving member of a political generation that saw Independence, survived the Emergency, and witnessed Punjab politics take a surprising turn in 2022.

Badal was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali over a week ago after he complained of uneasiness in breathing. He breathed his last around 8 pm.

Here are a lesser known incidents of Parkash Singh Badal’s Life

1. Badal became the youngest CM of Punjab in 1970 and then the oldest CM in 2012.

2. He was MLA 11 times, losing only twice.

3. He was the state’s longest serving chief minister, at 17 years across five terms. And he was president of Akali Dal from 1995 till 2017 when he handed over the mantle to his son and heir apparent Sukhbir Singh Badal.

4. Badal served as the leader of the opposition in Punjab assembly from October 2, 1972 to April 30, 1977. He also held the position of union minister for agriculture and irrigation during the Morarji Desai government.

5. In 1998 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Govt was facing trust vote he ensured last minute support of 5 INLD MPs.

As a sign of tribute to the former chief minister, the Central government has declared two days of state mourning, April 26 and 27, throughout the country. The cremation ceremony is scheduled for April 27 at 1 pm.