Jalandhar, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Punjab Cabinet Minister and veteran politician Bhagat Chunni Lal passed away at his residence in Jalandhar on Thursday. He was 93.
Bhagat Chunni Lal was the father of Punjab Horticulture, Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat.
Confirming his father’s demise, Mohinder Bhagat expressed grief over the loss in a social media post.
“My respected father, former Cabinet Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat, is no longer among us. His passing is an irreparable loss for our family,” he said.
Following the former minister’s demise, leaders and representatives from political, religious, social and business organisations expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
The Punjab Government declared a half-day holiday for the afternoon in state government offices and educational institutions as a mark of respect.
The last rites of Bhagat Chunni Lal will be performed in Jalandhar at 5 pm on Thursday, September 10.
Served as Minister, Deputy Speaker
Born in Sialkot, now in Pakistan, on December 1, 1932, Bhagat Chunni Lal came to Jalandhar with his family following Partition.
His electoral journey began with an unsuccessful contest as an Independent candidate from Jalandhar South in 1985. He subsequently joined the BJP and won the Jalandhar South Assembly constituency in 1997.
He returned to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from the constituency in 2007. Following delimitation, he contested from Jalandhar West in 2012 and won the seat.
Bhagat Chunni Lal also served as Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 2011.
Following the 2012 Punjab Assembly elections, he was inducted into the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government as a Cabinet Minister. He held the portfolios of Local Government and Medical Education and Research.
His son Mohinder Bhagat later parted ways with the BJP and joined the Aam Aadmi Party in April 2023. Mohinder Bhagat is presently a Cabinet Minister in the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government.
Bhagat Chunni Lal’s political career spanning several decades was closely associated with Jalandhar, where he represented the electorate in the Punjab Assembly on multiple occasions.
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