Daijiworld Media Network – Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Sep 10: Veteran Punjab politician and former minister Bhagat Chunni Lal died at the age of 93 at his residence in Jalandhar on Thursday.

His son and Punjab Cabinet minister Mohinder Bhagat confirmed the demise. “Chunni Lal Bhagat ji is no longer with us. We are deeply saddened by his demise,” he said.

The last rites of Bhagat Chunni Lal will be performed in Jalandhar at 5 pm on Thursday. As a mark of respect to the veteran leader, the Punjab government has announced a half-day holiday.

Bhagat Chunni Lal was a prominent political figure in Punjab and served as a Cabinet minister in the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government led by Parkash Singh Badal.

Born in Sialkot, now in Pakistan, on December 1, 1932, he moved to Jalandhar with his family following Partition. He entered electoral politics in 1985, contesting the Assembly election from Jalandhar South as an Independent candidate. Though he lost, he returned to the constituency on a BJP ticket in 1997 and secured victory.

He was elected again in 2007 and 2012, with the latter election being contested from Jalandhar West following delimitation. He also served as Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly in 2011.

After the SAD-BJP alliance formed the government in 2012, Bhagat Chunni Lal joined the Cabinet headed by Parkash Singh Badal. He handled the portfolios of Local Government and Medical Education and Research.

His political career spanned several decades and included multiple terms as an MLA, besides serving as Deputy Speaker and Cabinet minister.

His son Mohinder Bhagat, who was earlier with the BJP, joined the Aam Aadmi Party in April 2023. He subsequently became part of the Punjab Cabinet and is currently serving as the state's Horticulture Minister.