CHANDIGARH: Going by the trends of results of Punjab assembly elections, Parkash Singh Badal  president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is all set to become next chief minister of Punjab.The SAD9B) is heading for two third majority in 117 member legilsative assembly.

Badal was the chief minister of Punjab thrice and is Often referred to as the grand old man of Punjab politics. After losing the 2002 assembly election, he has returned like a phoenix. The Congress government had booked him in corruption case of unproportionate assetts.

Born in the village of Abul Khurana in 08-12-1927, he entered politics in 1947 and was first elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1957. He remained Chief Minister of Punjab on three different occasions i.e. from 27-03-1970 to 14-06-1971,20-06-1977 to 17-02-1980 and Feb. 1997 to Feb. 2002. Also he has been a Member of Parliament and became Union Minster of Agriculture and Irrigation in the Government headed by Late Sh. Morarji Desai. Badal has remained Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1972, 1980. Presently he holds the position of Leader of Opposition in 12th Punjab Vidhan Sabha from 2002.

He was detained in Karnal jail in connection with Civil Liberties Agitation, detained under MISA during Emergency and has been to jail several times for the cause of Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiat including the Dharam Yudh Morcha. In total he has spent many years in jail as a political prisoner fighting for the fut ure of Punjab.

His son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, is presently a Member of Parliament and a former union minister. Sukhbir Badal had handled the election campaign of his father. Badal's daughter Preneet Kaur is married to MLA Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, scion of the Kairon family, who is the grandson of the legendary Pratap Singh Kairon and nephew of former chief minister and Governor Harcharan Singh Brar.