Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)

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Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)
President Amritpal Singh
Lok Sabha  Leader Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa
Founded14 January 2025(7 months ago) (2025-01-14)
Ideology Sikh nationalism
Political position Right-wing
Colours   Saffron & Dark Blue
ECI StatusUnregistered
Seats in  Lok Sabha
2 / 543
Seats in  Rajya Sabha
0 / 245
Seats in  Punjab Legislative Assembly
0 / 117
Party flag
ADWPDFLAG.png
Website
https://adwpd.org/

Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) is an Indian political party formed by the supporters of Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistani politician and a Member of the Lok Sabha. [1] [2] [3] It was launched on 14 January 2025 during Mela Maghi at Sri Muktsar Sahib by Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa under the leadership of Amritpal Singh. [4] It is led by a 5-member committee consisting of Bapu Tarsem Singh, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, Amarjit Singh, Harbhajan Singh Tur, and Surjit Singh. [5]

Contents

Establishment of Party

Amritpal Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the party founders, both contested the 2024 Indian general election from the Khadoor Sahib and Faridkot Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab, respectively. [6] Both did not contest under any political party and were registered as Independent candidates, although Amritpal Singh received support from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), a pro-Khalistani political party. [7] The two candidates contested the election on the basis of approaching major issues of concern, such as tackling the drug crisis in Punjab, the release of Sikh political prisoners, and demanding justice for the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib. [8] [9]

This message successfully resonated with the constituents of the respective legislative districts, as both candidates won the election with large margins, defeating popular contestants and opponents, such as Punjabi actor Karamjit Anmol in Faridkot. Amritpal Singh won in Khadoor Sahib with a margin of 197,120, which was the largest of all 13 constituencies in Punjab. [10] These victories marked a pivotal moment in the political landscape of Punjab, as it was the first time since 1989 Indian general election that any candidates of Khalistani background, apart from Simranjit Singh Mann, were elected to the Lok Sabha, representing dissatisfaction with major political parties. [11]

Announcement of Party

After the general election, speculations spanning multiple months were appearing, which discussed the possibility of the formation of a political party by Amritpal Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, due to their similar circumstances of victory, and the issues of top priority for their supporters. On 29 September 2024, Tarsem Singh, father of MP Amritpal Singh, confirmed the rumours by announcing the establishment of a political party in the near future, at Akal Takht. [12]

On 4 January 2025, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa and Tarsem Singh announced the preparations for the launch of a new political party, scheduled to be officially launched on 14 January 2025 during Mela Maghi at Sri Muktsar Sahib, at a conference labelled 'Panth Bachao-Punjab Bachao'. [13] The political party was originally planned to be formed under the name "Shiromani Akali Dal (Anandpur Sahib)", but it was announced at the conference that the party will be named 'Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)', tying it to the social and political organisation Waris Punjab De, run by Amritpal Singh, and founded by Deep Sidhu.

Shri Muktsar Sahib Declaration

The Shri Muktsar Sahib Declaration is a manifesto containing a list of 15 resolutions that set the foundation of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), and laid out a general framework for the party to be structured in accordance to, in the months following its creation. This declaration describes the agenda that the party will work towards communicating to the people of Punjab, and their political objectives, along with the core values that will steer the direction of their campaigns. [14] The declaration was announced and made public on 14 January 2025, at the party’s first political conference, held at Mela Maghi, Sri Muktsar Sahib. [15]

Presence

On 13 April 2025, coinciding with the celebration of Vaisakhi, the party held its second major political conference at Talwandi Sabo, where party leaders shared updates regarding the party’s activities in the last 3 months following its establishment, as well as discussed preparations for the 2027 Punjab election. [16]

In July 2025, the party announced that it would contest the Vidhan Sabha by-election for the constituency of Tarn Taran, which was vacated by the death of MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal. This would mark the party’s first contested election since formation in January 2025. The party stated that a strong 'Panthic' candidate would be nominated to contest the by-election. [17]

Party leadership

Presidents

S. No.NamePortraitTenure
1 Amritpal Singh Amritpal Singh.png 14 January 2025(7 months ago)
ActingTarsem Singh Tarsem Singh.jpg 14 January 2025(7 months ago)

Other notable spokespeople

NamedPortraitDescription
Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa.jpg Member of Parliament from Faridkot
Imaan Singh KharaChief Spokesperson of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)
Balwinder Kaur SandhuMother of Amritpal Singh, campaigner during 2024 election
Mandeep Singh SidhuLawyer, younger brother of Deep Sidhu

List of elected officials

Lok Sabha

StateLok SabhaConstituencyPortraitNameElection
Punjab 18th Khadoor Sahib Amritpal Singh.png Amritpal Singh Khalsa 2024
Faridkot Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa.jpg Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa

References

  1. "Amritpal supporters float political outfit Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)". The Tribune. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  2. "'Akali Dal Waris Punjab De' outfit floated in Muktsar". The Economic Times. 14 January 2025. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  3. Scroll Staff (15 January 2025). "Jailed Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh launches new political party in Punjab". Scroll.in. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  4. Staff, Maktoob (15 January 2025). "Amritpal Singh launches new political party: Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)". Maktoob media. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  5. Bajwa, Harpreet (14 January 2025). "Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De): Jailed MP Amritpal Singh floats new political party". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  6. "Father didn't care and laid down his life, Sikh community pulled family through troubled times: Sarabjit Singh Khalsa". The Economic Times. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  7. "Punjab 2024: Is Amritpal Singh contesting just to get out of jail?". News Laundry. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  8. "Jailed but elected: Decoding Rashid, Amritpal Singh's Lok Sabha victories". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  9. "Jailed Amritpal Singh wins Khadoor Sahib seat". India Today. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  10. "Amritpal, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa — Sikh radicals' poll victories pose challenge for Mann govt". The Print. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  11. "Amritpal Singh's victory a reflection of people's disenchantment with mainstream parties in Punjab". Frontline Magazine. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  12. "Amritpal's father to float political party in Punjab". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  13. "Jailed pro-Khalistan MP Amritpal Singh to float a new political party on January 14". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  14. "Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) Official website". Akali Dal Waris Punjab De. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  15. "Akali Dal Waris Punjab De outfit floated in Muktsar". Deccan Herald. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  16. "'Jailed MP for top post': Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) makes 'Amritpal Singh for Punjab CM' pitch on Baisakhi". Times of India. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  17. "Amritpal's AD(WPD) to contest Tarn Taran byelection". Hindustan Times. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.