Lokdal

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox Indian political party

|party_name = Lokdal

|colorcode = {{party color|Lokdal}}

|president = Chaudhary Sunil Singh

|foundation = 1980

|headquarters = Central Office, 8, Mall Avenue, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

|founder = Charan Singh

|eci = Registered Unrecognised Political Party

|successor = Rashtriya Lok Dal (A & B)
Janta Dal

|state_seats_name = Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly

|ideology = Social democracy
Secularism

|position = Centre-left{{cite book |last=Gould |first=Harold|author-link=Harold A. Gould|date=20 May 2019|title=India Votes Alliance Politics And Minority Governments In The Ninth And Tenth General Elections |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gbuZDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Bharatiya+Lok+Dal%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT82 |publisher=Taylor and Francis|page= |isbn=9780429722776|access-date=19 June 2024}}

|website = {{url|http://lokdal.in/}}

|merger= Janata Party (Secular)
Socialist Party (Limaye)
Odissa Janata Party}}

Lokdal or Lok Dal is an Indian political party based on agriculture policies, founded by former Prime Minister Charan Singh.{{Cite magazine|author=Ajay Kumar |date=January 31, 1986 |title=With Chaudhury Charan Singh in hospital, Ajit Singh likely to step in as Lok Dal chief|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19860131-with-chaudhury-charan-singh-in-hospital-ajit-singh-likely-to-step-in-as-lok-dal-chief-800551-1986-01-31|access-date=2021-09-18|magazine=India Today|language=en}}{{Cite magazine|author=Arul B. Louis Amarnath K. Menon |date=December 23, 2014 |title=Lok Dal leader Charan Singh seeks mandate for his government|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19800115-lok-dal-leader-charan-singh-seeks-mandate-for-his-government-821729-2014-12-23|access-date=2021-09-18|magazine=India Today|language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Dal (India) |first=Lok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8wScHAAACAAJ |title=Constitution |date=1980 |publisher=Lok Dal |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Dal (India) |first=Lok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UrDhHAAACAAJ |title=Lok Dal Election Manifesto, 1979 |date=1979 |publisher=Lok Dal |language=en}} It was founded on 26 September 1979 by merging Janata Party (Secular), Socialist Party (Limaye) and Orissa Janata Party.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-27 |title=September 27, 1979, forty years ago: Lok Dal formed |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/september-27-1979-forty-years-ago-lok-dal-formed-6032094/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Charan Singh was elected president of Lok Dal and Raj Narain, its working president.

In August 1982, major split occurred in Lok Dal, with one faction of Charan Singh and another consisted of Karpoori Thakur, Madhu Limaye, Biju Patnaik, Devi Lal, George Fernandes, Kumbha Ram Arya.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-10 |title=August 10, 1982, Forty Years Ago: Two Lok Dals |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/40-years-ago/august-10-1982-forty-years-ago-two-lok-dals/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} The rebels were upset because of Charan Singh's dissociation with the coordination committee set up to facilitate the merger of the Lok Dal, Janata Party and Congress (Secular).{{Cite web |date=2022-02-02 |title=February 2, 1982, Forty Years Ago: Kerala Assembly |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/forty-years-ago-kerala-assembly-lok-dal-turmoil-7752183/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Later, in January 1983, Lok Dal led by Karpoori Thakur merged into Janata Party.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-28 |title=January 28, 1983, Forty Years Ago: Congress-I Shake-up |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/40-years-ago/january-28-1983-forty-years-ago-congress-i-shake-up-8408545/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

On 21 October 1984, Lok Dal, Democratic Socialist Party of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, Rashtriya Congress of Ratubhai Adani, and some leaders of Janata Party including Devi Lal merged together and formed Dalit Mazdoor Kisan Party.{{Cite web |title=Formation of DMKP gives decent burial to Lok Dal-Janata merger talks |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19841115-formation-of-dmkp-gives-decent-burial-to-lok-dal-janata-merger-talks-803469-1984-11-14 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=India Today |date=15 November 1984 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi leads Congress(I) to a brute majority in eighth Lok Sabha |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19850115-prime-minister-rajiv-gandhi-leads-congressi-to-a-brute-majority-in-eighth-lok-sabha-769675-2013-11-21 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=India Today |date=22 November 2013 |language=en}} Later it changed its name back to the Lok Dal.{{Cite web |title=Sharad Yadav's revolt against Nitish Kumar: How Janata Parivar unites to split |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sharad-yadav-nitish-kumar-janata-dal-united-1029179-2017-08-11 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=India Today |date=11 August 2017 |language=en}}

In February 1987, Lok Dal was split into two factions, Lok Dal (A) of Ajit Singh and Lok Dal (B) of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna. Ajit Singh removed Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was Lok Dal's leader in UP Legislative Assembly and made Satyapal Singh Yadav as Lok Dal's leader.{{Cite web |title=Lok Dal splits, Devi Lal asks warring Bahuguna and Ajit Singh to work towards harmony |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19870331-lok-dal-splits-devi-lal-asks-warring-bahuguna-and-ajit-singh-to-work-towards-harmony-798722-1987-03-30 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=India Today |date=31 March 1987 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lok Dal's split becomes convenient for Congress(I) in Uttar Pradesh |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19870731-lok-dal-split-becomes-convenient-for-congressi-in-uttar-pradesh-799121-1987-07-30 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=India Today |date=31 July 1987 |language=en}}

In May 1988, Ajit Singh merged Lok Dal into Janata Party and became president of Janata Party.{{Cite web |title=Ajit Singh catapulted as Janata Party president |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19880615-ajit-singh-catapulted-as-janata-party-president-797348-1988-06-14 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=India Today |date=15 June 1988 |language=en}}

A splinter group led by Sunil Singh is still active in Uttar Pradesh as 'Lok Dal'.