PQRS1 at 15:11, 23 February 2025

2025-02-23T15:11:50Z

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{{Short description|Indian politician and parliamentarian (1931–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}

'''Gurdas Singh Badal''' (6 August 1931 – 15 May 2020) was an Indian politician and parliamentarian. He was born in Abul Khurana, [[Firozpur district]]. He was the younger brother of [[Parkash Singh Badal]]. He was elected to the seventh Lok Sabha from [[Fazilka (Lok Sabha constituency)|Fazilka constituency]] in 1967 as member of [[Shiromani Akali Dal]].<ref>[http://elections.traceall.in/lok-sabha-parlimentary-constituency-results/Fazilka-in-Punjab Last Loksabha Election Results in Fazilka, Punjab]</ref><ref name="l" /> He was a member of the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sethi |first=Chitleen K. |date=2020-05-20 |title=Gurdas & Parkash, Badal brothers whose bond remained unbreakable despite political divide |url=https://theprint.in/india/gurdas-parkash-badal-brothers-whose-bond-remained-unbreakable-despite-political-divide/425158/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Family ==
He was the son of late Raghuraj Singh Badal, and the younger brother of former Chief Minister of Punjab, [[Parkash Singh Badal]]. His son [[Manpreet Singh Badal]] was the Finance Minister of Punjab. His wife Harmandar Kaur died in March 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Punjab FM Manpreet Badal's mother passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjab-fm-manpreet-badal-bereaved-mother-passes-away/articleshow/74703846.cms |accessdate=13 May 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=19 March 2020}}</ref>

== Political career ==
He was member of the [[Punjab Legislative Assembly]] from March 1967 – April 1969.<ref name="l">{{cite web |title=Fifth Lok Sabha, Members Bioprofile |url= http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/2027.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027213232/http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/2027.htm |website=Lok Sabha |accessdate=13 May 2020|archive-date= 27 October 2020}}</ref> He was elected to the [[5th Lok Sabha]] from 15 March 1971 – 18 January 1977 from Fazilka constituency representing the [[Shiromani Akali Dal]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-14 |title=Gurdas Badal stands by son |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/gurdas-badal-stands-by-son/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

Later in his life he sported a green turban and supported the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gurdas Badal, Younger Brother Of Parkash Singh Badal, Dies |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gurdas-badal-younger-brother-of-parkash-singh-badal-dies-2229295 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

He handled Badal’s entire election campaign in the family’s pocket borough of Lambi in Muktsar district. For people of Malwa, the region of Punjab that has traditionally been the Akali stronghold, Gurdas was Akali Dal and Akali Dal was Gurdas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DHNS |title=Badal siblings to lock horns in Punjab assembly polls |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/badal-siblings-to-lock-horns-in-punjab-assembly-polls-194199.html |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> It is often said that he was the man behind the Badal’s rise from village ''sarpanch'' to the chief minister of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-12-09 |title=Ex-CM Parkash Singh Badal turns 93, younger brother comes to greet |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/badal-turns-93-younger-brother-comes-to-greet/articleshow/72431183.cms |access-date=2024-01-02 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

He was known to be the wind under his brother's wings and his election manager. Parkash Singh Badal had reared Gurdas Singh Badal's son to politics and both their children were able to become famous politicians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gurdas Badal, father of Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, dies at 88 |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/gurdas-badal-father-of-punjab-finance-minister-manpreet-badal-dies-at-88-85111}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-05 |title=Why don’t you reunite: Akalis to Sukhbir and Manpreet, cite their fathers |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/why-dont-you-reunite-akalis-to-sukhbir-and-manpreet-cite-their-fathers-8592612/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Even after a schism occurred between the Sukhbir Singh Badal and Manpreet Singh Badal, which the former won, their relationship did not deteriorate and remained.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-05-16 |title=Gurdas Badal cremated with state honours at native village |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurdas-badal-cremated-with-state-honours-at-native-village/story-SD59Eb72vkWIun8ySiED7N.html |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

== Death ==
He died from cardiac arrest on 15 May 2020 at Fortis Hospital in Mohali.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 May 2020 |title=Punjab finance minister Manpreet Badal's father passes away |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/punjab-finance-minister-manpreet-badals-father-passes-away/articleshow/75751309.cms |accessdate=15 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=15 May 2020 |title=Gurdas Badal, father of Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, dies at 88 |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/gurdas-badal-father-of-punjab-finance-minister-manpreet-badal-dies-at-88-85111 |accessdate=15 May 2020}}</ref> He was cremated with state honors.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Badal, Gurdas Singh}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Fazilka district]]
[[Category:Shiromani Akali Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Punjabi Sikhs]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:India MPs 1971–1977]]
[[Category:India MPs 1977–1979]]
[[Category:India MPs 1980–1984]]
[[Category:People from Firozpur district]]

{{PunjabIN-SAD-politician-stub}}

Gurdas Singh Badal - Revision history

PQRS1 at 15:11, 23 February 2025