The Jana Sangh was the political precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was formed in 1980
06 July, 2026 – New Delhi : An important chapter in Punjab’s political history is that independent India’s first non-Congress government in PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union) — comprising eight Sikh princely states — had the backing of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, whose 125th birth anniversary is being marked on Monday.
Recalling events of 1952, former MP Tarlochan Singh, who was engaged politically with Mookerjee at the behest of leader Gian Singh Rarewala, said Dr Mookerjee played an important role during India’s first general and assembly elections.
PEPSU was then a separate entity comprising erstwhile Sikh princely states with Patiala as its capital.
“I was a student in Mohindra College, Patiala and active Member of All India Sikh Students Federation and was sent by Sardar Gian Singh Rarewala to New Delhi with a letter addressed to Sardar Bahadur Ranjit Singh, then an MP. I met him and Sardar Suchet Singh, another MP and both of them took me to the residence of Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerji and requested him to direct two Jan Sangh MLAs in PEPSU to support the Rarewala Government,” Tarlochan Singh told The Tribune, recalling Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
After a brief discussion, Dr Mookerjee handed over a letter directing both BJS MLAs Rao Kahan Singh (Mohindergarh) and Onkar Singh (Kanina) to support the Rarewala government.
“After reaching Patiala I handed over the letter to GS Rarewala who immediately conveyed the move to both MLAs. Rao Kahan Singh was elected Speaker and Onkar Singh became a Junior Minister in the Cabinet led by CM Rarewala,” Singh said, tracing the history of the Rarewala-led United Front coalition government, which included Akali Dal MLAs and other groups.
The government was dissolved in 1953 after then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru imposed President’s Rule.
Later in 1956, PEPSU was merged into Punjab.
The Jana Sangh was the political precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was formed in 1980.
Rarewala became the first head of the PEPSU government and later led the first elected non-Congress coalition in August 1952.
PEPSU was a state in the Indian Union formed by merging eight princely states of Punjab, with Patiala as its capital.
The Tribune