Chandigarh: Parkash Singh Badal, patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), was first elected sarpanch of Badal village, then in Bathinda district, when India became free in 1947.The word ‘Badal’ would later come to be etched permanently in the history of Punjabi politics, with Parkash, then 29 years old, never looking back.One of the few surviving politicians of that era, Badal, now 94, is in the electoral fray for a record 13th time from Lambi constituency in Muktsar district, which he has been winning since 1997.Due to his age, it was uncertain whether Parkash would fight these elections; he had been saying for some time that his mind was not made up. He was not in action during the 2019 parliamentary polls. In fact his son and successor, Sukhbir Singh Badal, has already been declared party’s chief ministerial face for the 2022 polls.By fielding Parkash again , it appears that SAD is still banking upon his legacy to overcome electoral losses of the 2017 polls, when the party was reduced to mere 15 seats in the 117-member state assembly, the lowest ever tally for the over-100-year-old party of Punjab.Senior journalist Jagtar Singh told The Wire that Parkash had himself conveyed a few times in the recent past that his inning in politics were over. The plausible reason why he has been brought back is to push the party’s poll campaign.Jagtar said the party is in a do-or-die situation after a massive defeat in the 2017 elections. Every seat is crucial in the ongoing polls. “With senior Badal in the fray, the party feels that the whole cadre will feel motivated and charged,” he said.In politics for the last 75 years, Parkash has been unassailable barring one election in 1967 – when too he lost by just 57 votes.Badal first entered the Punjab assembly in 1957 from the Malout constituency (another city in Muktsar district) on a Congress ticket. Later, he became part of the Akali Dal and became a pivotal figure in anti-Congress politics in Punjab.Also read: Fight For Punjab’s Moga Seat Heats Up As Sonu Sood Campaigns for Sister MalvikaHe went on to become chief minister five times after the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, a record that he still holds apart from winning assembly elections again for a record 11 times. After Malout, Badal shifted his base to the nearby Gidderbaha constituency, which he won five out of six times between 1967 and 1985.The state polls after 1985 were held in 1992, which the Akali Dal had boycotted in protest against the Congress government at the Centre for not fulfilling longstanding demands made by Sikhs.Badal shifted to Lambi in the 1997 assembly polls – and has not lost from here since. Lambi is a small rural constituency of 71 villages. Badal village falls in the same constituency. Although Parkash was born in 1927 in the village Abul Khurana near Malout, Badal became his permanent home.He has a big mansion in the village. It is from here he that has now been managing his election and meeting party supporters.Parkash was recently diagnosed with COVID-19. He has recovered now and is in stable health.According to media reports, after SAD announced his candidature on Wednesday, party workers inaugurated a poll office at Lambi village and organised a Sukhmani Sahib path to pray for his victory.Less feisty contestIn 2017, when Amarinder Singh of the Congress confronted Parkash in Lambi, it was projected as the mother of all battles. Later, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also fielded Jarnail Singh, the former journalist-turned-politician who gained popularity for hurling a shoe at then Union home minister P. Chidambaram in 2009 over Congress leaders being given a clean chit in the 1984 pogrom.Despite a feisty contest, Badal proved his mettle. He defeated Amarinder, who later became the Punjab chief minister, with over 24,000 votes.This time there is no heavy weight in the poll fray against Parkash. AAP has fielded former Congress leader Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, while Congress’s nominee, Jagpal Singh Abul Khurana, is a newcomer. The BJP-Punjab Lok Congress has made Rakesh Dhingra its candidate from Lambi, another a newcomer.Khuddian told The Wire that Punjab will deliver a political change this time. Badal has remained the chief minister for five terms but he could not give good schools to the people of his own constituency, forget about the whole of the state, the AAP candidate alleged. “Where are the affordable and quality health services here or elsewhere? Badal was recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and he received his treatment at a private hospital in Ludhiana. Why is there no big medical institute anywhere in Punjab like PGI in Chandigarh?”He said unemployment in Punjab is at an all-time high, but did Parkash ever focus on generating employment? People have now realised that traditional parties have just used them for their vote bank. They are looking for a change this time from old politicians and old political parties, he added.“AAP will improve education and health services once our party forms the government in Punjab, ” said Khuddian.Also read: In Punjab Elections, the Sidhu Versus Majithia Clash Promises to Be IntenseOn the other hand, Parkash has already made one around the constituency, holding public meetings in all 71 villages.Local SAD leader Ranjodh Dhaliwal told The Wire that the AAP candidate is spreading lies. “Badals have made a huge contribution to developing civic infrastructure, not only in Lambi but the whole of Punjab. The AAP candidate is a turncoat who came from Congress, which ran a completely hollow government in the last five years.”Dhaliwal said many senior leaders will also come here to campaign for Parkash. Abhay Chautala of the Indian National Lok Dal is expected on February 2. The Chautala family has had close personal ties with the Badals.Apart from the Akali Dal cadre, Harsimrat Badal has also been visiting villages in Lambi on a regular basis to campaign for her father-in-law. Her son, Anantbir Singh Badal, has also been seen at many social functions since the first week of January.In a meeting last month in Lambi, Harsimrat told the crowds, “When SAD-BSP comes to power, Sukhbir Badal will be your CM but Badal Sahab will be your ‘super CM’. He keeps on saying that now health does not allow him, age factor is also there. But you all convince him, you can make him win elections even if he sits at home. He has served this area as a sewadar for decades.”