Parkash Singh Badal is an Indian politician who has been the Chief Ministers of Punjab state since 2007. He previously served as Chief Minister from 1970 to 1971, from 1977 to 1980, and from 1997 to 2002. He is an Indian agriculturist and a former president of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Government of India awarded him the second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, in 2015.

Early Life of Parkash Singh Bad
Parkash Singh Badal was born December 8, 1927 in the village of Abul Khurana, near Malwa to Raghuraj Singh and Sundri Kaur in a Jat Sikh family. He graduated from the Forman Christian College in Lahore.

Political Life of Parkash Singh Badal
Parkash Singh Badal entered politics in 1947. He was "Sarpanch" of the village Badal and later Chairman of Block Samiti, Lambi before rising into Punjab politics. He was elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1957 for the first time. He was re-elected in 1969, serving as the Minister for Community Development, Panchayati Raj, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries from 1969-1970.

Prakash Singh Badal has become the Chief Minister of Punjab, in 3 earlier terms, from 1970-1971, 1977-1980 and from 1997-2002. He has also been a Member of Parliament. Later, Badal became Union Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation in the Central Government that was led by Morarji Desai. From 1996 to 2008, Badal was also the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

In the 2012 election, on 6 March, his party, SAD, won 68 seats out of 117. Parkash Singh Badal upon winning his record breaking 5th election is regarded as the “Oldest Chief Minister”. He is also the oldest chief minister ever, and is the only person who has been both the youngest and the oldest chief minister of his state.

Personal Life of Parkash Singh Badal
Prakash Singh Badal was married to Surinder Kaur in the year 1959. The couple has two children, one son and one daughter. His son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, is presently serving as a Member of Parliament and was also a former union minister. His wife passed away in 2011 after a long illness due to cancer.

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Chief Ministers of Indian States
Chief Ministers of Punjab
Indian Politicians
Punjab
Indian States
Government of India
Member of Parliament