Balwinder Singh Bhunder

Balwinder Singh Bhunder (born 20 September 1944) is an Indian politician, former member of the Rajya Sabha, from the state of Punjab, and is the Working President^[1] of Shiromani Akali Dal.

Balwinder Singh Bhunder
Working President Shiromani Akali Dal
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 August 2024
President	Sukhbir Singh Badal
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office 2010 – 2022
Preceded by	Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha
Succeeded by	Balbir Singh Seechewal
Constituency	Punjab
In office 1998 – 2002
Preceded by	Virendra Kataria
Succeeded by	Gurcharan Kaur
Constituency	Punjab
Cabinet Minister, Government of Punjab
In office 1977 – 1980
Cabinet	Second Badal ministry
Chief Minister	Parkash Singh Badal
Ministry and Departments	Agriculture Forest Soil Conservation
Member of Punjab Legislative Assembly
In office 2002 – 2007
Preceded by	Ajit Inder Singh
Succeeded by	Ajit Inder Singh
Constituency	Sardulgarh
In office 1972 – 1992
Preceded by	Kirpal Singh
Succeeded by	Kirpal Singh
Constituency	Sardulgarh
Personal details
Born	(1944-09-20) 20 September 1944 (age 80) Sardulgarh, Punjab, British India
Political party	Shiromani Akali Dal
Spouse	Balwant Kaur
Children	Dilraj Singh Bhunder, Balraj Singh Bhunder
Source:

He is a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal party.^[2] He served as the Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, the Cabinet Minister for Forest and the Cabinet Minister for Soil Conservation from 1977 to 1980. He has held former positions of General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal, President of All India Kisan Sabha and Member of the Legislative Assembly from Sardulgarh, Mansa district.^[3]

Early life

Bhunder was born in the village of Bhunder, Sardulgarh, Mansa district, in the state of Punjab, to Sardar Boota Singh and Shrimati Surjit Kaur.^[4]

Biography

Bhunder married Shrimati Balwant Kaur.^[2] They had two sons, Balraj Singh Bhunder and Dilraj Singh Bhunder. Balraj Singh Bhunder died in 2007 at the age of 40. Balraj was the National General Secretary of the Youth Wing, Youth Akali Dal.^[5] Dilraj Singh Bhunder is an MLA from Sardulgarh, Mansa district.

Political career

Bhunder started his political career when he was elected the Village Sarpanch from 1964 to 1972. He was then elected to be a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly from the Sardulgarh, Mansa District constituency for 4 consecutive terms; 1972–1977, 1977–1980, 1980-1982 and 1982–1987. During which he served as the Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, the Cabinet Minister for Forest and the Cabinet Minister for Soil Conservation.

From 1997 to 1999, Bhunder served as the Chairman of the Agricultural Marketing Board.^[6] In 1998, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India. From 2002 to 2007, Bhunder was again elected to be a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly from the Sardulgarh, Mansa District constituency for the 5th time. Since then, he has served as a member of Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Agriculture, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution, and the Committee of Food.^[7]

Bhunder was again elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 2010 and 2016 as well. Since then, he has also served as a member of Committee to the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, Committee on Water Resources, Committee on Subordinate Legislation, and the Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill.^[7] Bhunder was appointed as the Secretary General of Shiromani Akali Dal in June 2020.^[1]