Five times CM of Punjab, Prakash Singh Badal passes away at 95

Thursday to be a one-day state mourning for the deceased leader

Parkash Singh Badal, a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) veteran and five-time chief minister of Punjab, died on Tuesday at the age of 95.

He was admitted seven days ago to a private hospital in Mohali and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday.

Leaders from all political parties expressed their condolences on Badal's death. While condoling the senior leader's death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was a tremendous force in Indian politics.

Badal, who was born on December 8, 1927 in Muktsar, has been in the critical care unit (ICU) since Saturday. He was elected village sarpanch at the age of 20 and first elected as an MLA on a Congress ticket in 1957. At the age of 43, he was elected Chief Minister of Punjab for the first time in 1970.

As a symbol of respect for the dead leader, the Punjab government has proclaimed a one-day state mourning on Thursday, with all government offices, educational institutions, and banks remaining closed.

Parkash Singh Badal's funeral will be held in his home village of Badal in Muktsar district on Thursday. A large throng, including political leaders, dignitaries, and supporters from around the state, is expected to attend the cremation service.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed his condolences, saying the state had lost a giant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled his decades-long friendship with Badal and expressed sadness at his demise.

Parkash Singh Badal was the fifth Chief Minister of Punjab and a Union Minister in the late 1970s. Following his death. There has been an outpouring of condolence messages from leaders across the political spectrum.