NEW DELHI, India: The seven members Akali Dal Parliamentary Party, which made its debut in the Lok Sabha after the 1984 elections as a united group, has been badly fragmented, thanks to its interparty contradictions and the impact of the developments within the parent organization in Punjab.
The party split in three groups now with members of each group adopting contradictory positions during debates relating to the Punjab situation.
In a note addressed to the Lok Sabha Speakers here one of the ‘Akali MPs, Mr. Charanjit Singh Walia, conveyed to him the news that he had been elected Leader of the Akali Dal (B) group consisting of three members and he should be recognized as such. He also requested that in future joint meetings of Opposition parties conveyed by the government side he and not Mr. Shaminder Singh should be invited to represent the Dal (B)
The three groups functioning in the Lok Sabha these days comprise one consisting of two members led by Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, representing the Akali Dal (1), the second comprising three members — Mr. Charanjit Singh Walia, Mr. Tarlochan Singh Tur and Mr. Charanjit Singh Atwal— representing the Badal faction, and the third comprising Mr. Shaminder Singh and Mr. Mewa Singh Gill, both officially described in the Lok Sabha reports as “unattached”.
The last group comprising Mr. Shaminder Singh and Mr. Gill obtained the “unattached” status when they were expelled from the Parliamentary party by a former Chief Minister, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, for antiparty activates in the wake of the split in the parent organization.
However, according to sources in the party, there seems to have been some resentment among the Badal faction that it was Mr. Shaminder Singh who was invariably invited to represent the faction at Opposition parties’ meetings convened by the government.
The simmering discontent appears to have come out in the open on Monday after a speech by Mr. Gill in the Lok Sabha on the motion moved by the Union Home Minister, Mr. Buta Singh, seeking an extension of President’s rule, Mr. Gill spoke in favor of the extension and did not stress the familiar points which Akali MPs always raised on the floor of the House, He also said all former Ministers in the Barnala government should be prosecuted on corruption charges.
After the debate heated exchanges are stated to have taken. Place outside Parliament between’ Mr. Gill and other members of the Badal group and one thing leading. To another, Mr. Walia was “elected” as leader of the group, and the Speaker was notified.
After the first split the Badal group has been functioning with us a formally named leader while the Longowal group has been officially functioning as such under the leadership of Mr. Ramoowalia.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 27, 1987
