Manpreet Singh Badal

Summary

Manpreet Singh Badal (born 26 July 1962) is an Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is the former Finance Minister of Punjab. He resigned from Indian National Congress on 18 January 2023 and joined the BJP the same day.

Manpreet Singh Badal
Minister for Finance & Planning
Government of Punjab
In office
16 March 2017 – 10 March 2022
Chief MinisterCharanjit Singh Channi Amarinder Singh
In office
2007–2010
Chief MinisterParkash Singh Badal
Deputy Chief MinisterSukhbir Singh Badal
Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly
In office
11 March 2017 – 10 March 2022
SpeakerRana K.P. Singh
Deputy SpeakerAjaib Singh Bhatti
ConstituencyBathinda Urban
In office
1995–2012
ConstituencyGidderbaha
Personal details
Born (1962-07-26) 26 July 1962 (age 61)
Badal, Punjab, India
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party (2023-present)
Other political
affiliations
SpouseVinu Badal[1]
Children2
Parent
RelativesBadal family

He has been member of Punjab Legislative Assembly five times (1995, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2017), and has been finance minister twice. His first stint as Finance Minister was in the government led by Parkash Singh Badal from 2007 to 2010.[2][3] This was his second stint as Finance Minister. He has presented the Punjab budget a record nine times — the maximum for any minister in Punjab.

Early life edit

Manpreet Singh Badal was born on 26 July 1962 in Muktsar. He is the son of Gurdas Singh Badal, the brother of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,[4] and Harmandir Kaur Badal, who died on 19 March 2020 at the age of 84.[5] Manpreet Singh Badal attended The Doon School and St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi. He is fluent in English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu. He was subsequently awarded a law degree by the University of London.[6]

Political career edit

Shiromani Akali Dal edit

He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in May 1995 on an Akali Dal ticket from Gidderbaha.[7][8][9] He was re-elected from Gidderbaha constituency in 1997, 2002 and 2007.[10][11] In 2007 he was made finance minister in Parkash Singh Badal government. He was removed from this post following differences about debt waiver offer from the Centre with the rest of party. Subsequently, he was expelled from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in October 2010.[11][12][13][14]

People's Party of Punjab edit

In 2011, he formed a new political party called People's Party of Punjab.[12][15] In the 2012 Punjab elections, his party formed political alliance with CPI, CPM and Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) with Badal as their candidate for the office of chief minister.[16] He contested the elections from the Gidderbaha and Maur constituencies,[17] losing from both seats.[18][19]

On 15 January 2016 Manpreet merged his party with the Congress.[20]

Indian National Congress edit

After merging his party with the Indian National Congress,[21] he was awarded the party ticket to contest from Bathinda Urban constituency. He won the seat defeating his rival from the Aam Aadmi Party by 18,480 votes in the Punjab assembly elections held in March 2017.[22] In 2022 elections he lost the seat to Aam Aadmi party by 63,581 votes which is the highest margin lost by any candidate in entire Punjab elections of 2022.[23]. He resigned from Indian National Congress on 18 January 2023.[23]

Bhartiya Janata Party edit

After, quited the Indian National Congress Manpreet Singh Badal joined the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on 19 January 2023.[24][25]

Family edit

He is married to Vinu Badal, and he has a son and a daughter.

References edit

  1. ^ Manpreet-Father Visit CM’s Wife
  2. ^ Badal allocates portfolios
  3. ^ Punjab Finance Minister sacked
  4. ^ Manpreet Profile
  5. ^ "Punjab FM Manpreet Badal's mother passes away". The Times of India. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  6. ^ Pubby, Vipin (14 October 2010). "Badal vs Badal". Express India. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  7. ^ To take on Badals in Gidderbaha, among Congress contenders: Amarinder Singh
  8. ^ Knives were out for Manpreet after Sukhbir cancelled trip
  9. ^ Manpreet Badal resigns as MLA; likely to float new party
  10. ^ "Manpreet Badal resigns as MLA; likely to float new party". Indian Express.com. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  11. ^ a b Shiromani Akali Dal expels rebel leader
  12. ^ a b "Manpreet Singh Badal floats new party". Economic Times. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  13. ^ Manpreet Badal's ouster breaks bond of Badals
  14. ^ "Manpreet Singh Badal sacked as Punjab finance minister". NDTV.com. 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  15. ^ Another Badal rises on Punjab's political horizon
  16. ^ Sanjha Morcha blows poll bugle
  17. ^ Manpreet plays safe, picks Maur as second seat
  18. ^ Punjab elections: Manpreet Badal finds himself a rebel without a cause
  19. ^ Manpreet loses both seats, father Gurdas his deposit
  20. ^ "पंजाबः सीएम बादल के भतीजे मनप्रीत अपनी पार्टी सहित कांग्रेस में शामिल". Dainik Jagran. 15 January 2016.
  21. ^ "Manpreet Singh Badal's PPP merges with Congress". Business Standard. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  22. ^ Bhatinda Urban constituency Assembly election winner 2017
  23. ^ "Former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Badal quits Congress, joins BJP". Hindustan Times. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  24. ^ Chaturvedi, Rakesh Mohan (19 January 2023). "Manpreet Badal quits Congress, joins BJP". The Economic Times. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Punjab Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal joins BJP". The Times of India. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.