Bhagat Chunni Lal Dies, Punjab Declares Half-Day Holiday
Bhagat Chunni Lal Dies, Punjab Declares Half-Day Holiday
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Key Points
1
Bhagat Chunni Lal began his electoral career in 1985 as an Independent candidate from Jalandhar South, but lost that first contest before later winning the seat on a BJP ticket in 1997.
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His son Mohinder Bhagat left the BJP and joined the Aam Aadmi Party in April 2023; he is now Punjab’s Horticulture Minister in the AAP government.
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Chunni Lal was born on December 1, 1932, in Sialkot, which is now in Pakistan, before his family relocated to Jalandhar after the 1947 Partition.
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His son described the family’s loss by saying, “Chunni Lal Bhagat ji is no longer with us. We are deeply saddened by his demise.”
Bhagat Chunni Lal, a veteran Punjab politician and BJP leader, died Thursday at his home in Jalandhar at age 93. Patiala Politics reported that the Punjab government declared a half-day holiday to honor him, and his cremation was scheduled for 5 p.m. in Jalandhar. His son, Punjab Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat, announced the death and said the family was "deeply saddened by his demise."
A Political Career Spanning Six Decades
Chunni Lal was born December 1, 1932, in Sialkot, now part of Pakistan, and moved to Jalandhar after the 1947 Partition. ETV Bharat noted he became a prominent Dalit face of the BJP and won three Assembly elections—in 1997, 2007, and 2012—all from Jalandhar. He first ran as an Independent candidate in 1985 from Jalandhar South but lost before his later victories on the BJP ticket.
In the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government led by Parkash Singh Badal, Chunni Lal served as deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly in 2011. He also held key portfolios in Local Government and Medical Education and Research. His long political journey made him one of Punjab's respected veterans in state politics.
Son Switched Parties and Now Leads in AAP Government
Chunni Lal's son Mohinder Bhagat took a different political path. He left the BJP and joined the Aam Aadmi Party in April 2023. Babushahi reported that Mohinder now serves as Punjab's Horticulture Minister in the AAP government, giving the family representation across rival political parties.
Punjab Leadership Pays Respects to Veteran Politician
Punjab government leaders mourned Chunni Lal's passing. Patiala Politics reported that Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sardar Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed deep grief over the death of the "veteran politician and former Punjab Minister." Cabinet ministers across the state also released statements honoring his six-decade contribution to Punjab politics and public service.
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