AndrewJordan at 19:30, 25 March 2026

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{{Infobox Indian political party
|party_name = Lokdal
|colorcode = {{party color|Lokdal}}
|president = [[Chaudhary Sunil Singh]]
|foundation = 1979
|headquarters = Central Office, 8, Mall Avenue, [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
|founder = [[Charan Singh]]
|eci = Registered Unrecognised Political Party
|successor = [[Rashtriya Lok Dal]] (A & B)<br>[[Janta Dal]]
|state_seats_name = [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
|ideology = [[Social democracy]]<br>[[Secularism]]
|position = [[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Gould |first=Harold|author-link=Harold A. Gould|date=20 May 2019|title=India Votes Alliance Politics And Minority Governments In The Ninth And Tenth General Elections |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gbuZDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Bharatiya+Lok+Dal%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT82 |publisher=Taylor and Francis|page= |isbn=9780429722776|access-date=19 June 2024}}</ref>
|website = {{URL|http://lokdal.in/}}
|merger= [[Janata Party (Secular)]]<br>Socialist Party (Limaye)<br>Odissa Janata Party}}
'''Lokdal ''' or '''Lok Dal''' is an Indian political party based on agriculture policies, founded by former [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] [[Charan Singh]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Ajay Kumar |date=January 31, 1986 |title=With Chaudhury Charan Singh in hospital, Ajit Singh likely to step in as Lok Dal chief|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19860131-with-chaudhury-charan-singh-in-hospital-ajit-singh-likely-to-step-in-as-lok-dal-chief-800551-1986-01-31|access-date=2021-09-18|magazine=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Arul B. Louis Amarnath K. Menon |date=December 23, 2014 |title=Lok Dal leader Charan Singh seeks mandate for his government|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19800115-lok-dal-leader-charan-singh-seeks-mandate-for-his-government-821729-2014-12-23|access-date=2021-09-18|magazine=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dal (India) |first=Lok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8wScHAAACAAJ |title=Constitution |date=1980 |publisher=Lok Dal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dal (India) |first=Lok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UrDhHAAACAAJ |title=Lok Dal Election Manifesto, 1979 |date=1979 |publisher=Lok Dal |language=en}}</ref> It was founded on 26 September 1979 by merging [[Janata Party (Secular)]], Socialist Party (Limaye) and Orissa Janata Party.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2019-09-27 |title=September 27, 1979, forty years ago: Lok Dal formed |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/september-27-1979-forty-years-ago-lok-dal-formed-6032094/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> [[Charan Singh]] was elected president of Lok Dal and [[Raj Narain]] its working president.<ref name=":3" />

In August 1982, a major split occurred in Lok Dal, with one faction led by [[Charan Singh]] and another consisting of [[Karpoori Thakur]], [[Madhu Limaye]], [[Biju Patnaik]], [[Devi Lal]], [[George Fernandes]], and [[Kumbha Ram Arya]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-10 |title=August 10, 1982, Forty Years Ago: Two Lok Dals |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/40-years-ago/august-10-1982-forty-years-ago-two-lok-dals/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The rebels were upset because of Charan Singh's dissociation with the coordination committee set up to facilitate the merger of the Lok Dal, [[Janata Party]] and [[Congress (Secular)]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-02 |title=February 2, 1982, Forty Years Ago: Kerala Assembly |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/forty-years-ago-kerala-assembly-lok-dal-turmoil-7752183/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Later, in January 1983, Lok Dal led by [[Karpoori Thakur]] merged into [[Janata Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-28 |title=January 28, 1983, Forty Years Ago: Congress-I Shake-up |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/40-years-ago/january-28-1983-forty-years-ago-congress-i-shake-up-8408545/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

On 21 October 1984, Lok Dal, Democratic Socialist Party of [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna]], [[Rashtriya Congress]] of [[Ratubhai Adani]], and some leaders of [[Janata Party]] including [[Devi Lal]] merged and formed [[Dalit Mazdoor Kisan Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Formation of DMKP gives decent burial to Lok Dal-Janata merger talks |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19841115-formation-of-dmkp-gives-decent-burial-to-lok-dal-janata-merger-talks-803469-1984-11-14 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=India Today |date=15 November 1984 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi leads Congress(I) to a brute majority in eighth Lok Sabha |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19850115-prime-minister-rajiv-gandhi-leads-congressi-to-a-brute-majority-in-eighth-lok-sabha-769675-2013-11-21 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=India Today |date=22 November 2013 |language=en}}</ref> Later it changed its name back to the Lok Dal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharad Yadav's revolt against Nitish Kumar: How Janata Parivar unites to split |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sharad-yadav-nitish-kumar-janata-dal-united-1029179-2017-08-11 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=India Today |date=11 August 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

In February 1987, Lok Dal was split into two factions, Lok Dal (A) of [[Ajit Singh (politician, born 1939)|Ajit Singh]] and Lok Dal (B) of [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna]]. Ajit Singh removed [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]], who was Lok Dal's leader in [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|UP Legislative Assembly]] and made [[Satyapal Singh Yadav]] Lok Dal's leader.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lok Dal splits, Devi Lal asks warring Bahuguna and Ajit Singh to work towards harmony |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19870331-lok-dal-splits-devi-lal-asks-warring-bahuguna-and-ajit-singh-to-work-towards-harmony-798722-1987-03-30 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=India Today |date=31 March 1987 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lok Dal's split becomes convenient for Congress(I) in Uttar Pradesh |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19870731-lok-dal-split-becomes-convenient-for-congressi-in-uttar-pradesh-799121-1987-07-30 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=India Today |date=31 July 1987 |language=en}}</ref>

In May 1988, [[Ajit Singh (politician, born 1939)|Ajit Singh]] merged Lok Dal into [[Janata Party]] and became president of Janata Party.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ajit Singh catapulted as Janata Party president |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19880615-ajit-singh-catapulted-as-janata-party-president-797348-1988-06-14 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=India Today |date=15 June 1988 |language=en}}</ref>

== Prominent members ==

* [[Charan Singh]], founder of Lok Dal and former Prime Minister of India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-04-09 |title=April 9, 1982, Forty Years Ago: Lok Dal Split |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/april-9-1982-forty-years-ago-lok-dal-split-7860620/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Biju Patnaik]], former Chief Minister of Odisha.<ref name=":1" />
* [[Devi Lal]], former Deputy Prime Minister of India.<ref name=":1" />
* [[Kumbha Ram Arya]].<ref name=":1" />
* [[Karpoori Thakur]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Lok Dal splits, turns out to be biggest blow to the Opposition |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19820831-lok-dal-splits-turns-out-to-be-biggest-blow-to-the-opposition-772113-2013-10-07 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=India Today |date=7 October 2013 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=SINGH |first=JAGPAL |date=2015 |title=Karpoori Thakur: A Socialist Leader in the Hindi Belt |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24481124 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=50 |issue=3 |pages=54–60 |jstor=24481124 |issn=0012-9976}}</ref>
* [[Madhu Limaye]].<ref name=":2" />
* [[Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna]], former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and worked as acting-president of Lok Dal between 1986 – 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Split in Lok Dal avoided as warring factions call a hasty truce in New Delhi |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19870228-split-in-lok-dal-avoided-as-warring-factions-call-a-hasty-truce-in-new-delhi-798574-1987-02-27 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=India Today |date=28 February 1987 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ajit Singh (politician, born 1939)|Ajit Singh]].<ref name=":0" />
* [[Subramanian Swamy]], was in Lok Dal between 1984 – 1988 and served as general secretary of Lok Dal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nandy |first=Pritish |date=15 May 1988 |title=The Usurpers |pages=1294 |work=The Illustrated Weekly of India |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.13141}}</ref>
* [[Satya Prakash Malaviya]], was general secretary of Lok Dal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 March 1987 |title="There are no camps in Lok Dal" : S P Malviya |pages=464 |work=The Illustrated Weekly of India |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12254/page/n463/mode/2up?view=theater}}</ref>
* [[Ram Vilas Paswan]], was general secretary of Lok Dal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=With Chaudhury Charan Singh in hospital, Ajit Singh likely to step in as Lok Dal chief |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19860131-with-chaudhury-charan-singh-in-hospital-ajit-singh-likely-to-step-in-as-lok-dal-chief-800551-1986-01-30 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=India Today |date=31 January 1986 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Sharad Yadav]], was general secretary of Lok Dal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prospect of Lok Dal-Janata Party alliance may spell trouble for Congress(I) in LS polls |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19841031-prospect-of-lok-dal-janata-party-alliance-may-spell-trouble-for-congress-i-in-coming-polls-803399-1984-10-30 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=India Today |date=31 October 1984 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]], was Lok Dal's leader in [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mulayam Singh Yadav, a mass leader who played politics like a wrestler |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mulayam-singh-yadav-a-mass-leader-who-played-politics-like-a-wrestler-2283272-2022-10-10 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=India Today |date=10 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Satya Pal Malik]], was general secretary of Lok Dal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charan Singh expels Devi Lal from Lok Dal |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19820815-charan-singh-expels-devi-lal-from-lok-dal-772091-2013-10-05 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=India Today |date=5 October 2013 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Chaudhary Khurshid Ahmed|Khurshid Ahmed]], Member of Parliament of Faridabad from Lok Dal.

== See also ==
* [[Girraj Kishore Mahaur]], former MLA of Lok Dal
* [[Lok Dal (Charan)]]
* [[Rashtriya Lok Dal]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Janata Parivar}}

[[Category:Political parties established in 1980]]
[[Category:Political parties in India]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Lok Dal]]

Lokdal - Revision history

AndrewJordan at 19:30, 25 March 2026