People's Party of Punjab

The People's Party of Punjab (PPP) was a Punjab-based Indian political party, founded by Manpreet Singh Badal in March 2011.[2] After disagreements with the Chief Minister and his uncle Parkash Singh Badal, Manpreet resigned from the position of Finance Minister of Punjab, and later, from membership of the state assembly.[3] In 2016, Manpreet announced the merger of the party with the Indian National Congress after meeting with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.[4][5]

People's Party of Punjab
LeaderManpreet Singh Badal
Founded27 March 2011
Dissolved14 January 2016
Merged intoIndian National Congress
HeadquartersMalout Road,
Gidderbaha (Mukatsar),
Punjab, India
IdeologySikh politics
Secularism
Political positionCentre
ColoursSaffron  
ECI StatusRegistered Party[1]
Election symbol

History

The People's Party of Punjab (PPP) had a short-lived existence. After its formation in March 2011, it contested the 2012 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. Following a non-impressive performance in 2012, it decided to dissolve the organizational structure in 2014 and make attempts to rejuvenate the party.[6] The party forged an alliance with the Indian National Congress to contest the 2014 Indian general election with Manpreet contesting the Bathinda Parliamentary seat[7][8] against Harsimrat Kaur Badal. In 2015, amidst speculation that it would merge with the Aam Aadmi Party, the PPP denied talk of its merger.[9] Later, in 2016, the party was dissolved and it merged with the Indian National Congress.[10]

2012 Punjab State Election

The 2012 state election was the first to be contested by the party. It allied with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) in a group calling itself the Sanjha Morcha (Common Front).[11][12] Badal was the chief ministerial candidate of the coalition.

The Sanjha Morcha was unsuccessful in winning any of the seats it had contested despite garnering an approximate share of 6% of the total votes polled.

Ideology

Unlike the Shiromani Akali Dal from where Manpreet Singh Badal and a majority of his followers came, PPP maintained a distance from Sikh political affairs, and aimed to emerge as a secular[13] third-front alternative in Punjab politics, aligning with various left parties.

References
  1. "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013" (PDF). India: Election Commission of India. 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  2. "Manpreet Badal floats new political party". NDTV. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  3. "Manpreet Badal Resigns as MLA, to Float New Party". Outlook. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  4. "Manpreet Badal's People's Party of Punjab merges with Congress". The Indian Express. 15 January 2016.
  5. "Manpreet meets Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, to merge PPP with Cong today". 15 January 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  6. "PPP dismantles structure, to rebuild for 2017". Hindustan Times. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  7. "Congress joins hands with Badal's nephew in Punjab". India TV. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  8. "Congress-People's Party of Punjab enter into alliance". The Economic Times. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  9. "Won't join Aam Aadmi: Manpreet". The Tribune. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  10. "Manpreet Singh Badal's PPP merges with Congress". Business Standard. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  11. "Next stop for Morcha: Poll pact with BSP". The Indian Express. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  12. "Sanjha Morcha blows poll bugle, says Manpreet is CM candidate". The Indian Express. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  13. "Final shape to Third Front likely on Tuesday". 24 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
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