Patiala: Senior Congress leader and former Punjab minister Lal Singh died on Saturday at the age of 83.He had been undergoing treatment at Max Hospital, Mohali, for the past several days. Family members said he had recently been facing lung and cardiac-related health issues. A six-time MLA, Lal Singh first entered the Punjab legislative assembly in 1977 from Dakala in Patiala district. He represented the constituency five times before winning from Sanaur in 2012 after delimitation.His political career spanned nearly five decades, during which he built strong grassroots connectivity in the Patiala region.His son and former legislator, Rajinder Singh, said, “My father remained associated with the Congress for more than 45 years. He first won as MLA in 1977, when the party had got only around 15 seats. Before that, he had served as district Congress president. Later, he became finance minister.”Lal Singh held several key positions in the Punjab govt, including finance minister in the Captain Amarinder Singh-led government. He also handled the food and civil supplies department and served as chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board.He also served as acting president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.Before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Lal Singh had publicly expressed his desire to contest from the Patiala parliamentary seat and had shared a video message recalling his long political journey and commitment to the Congress.Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, in a post on X, said, “We have lost a senior leader of Punjab politics. His long public life and experience will be remembered. He was respected across political lines and maintained relationships beyond party differences.”The family said the cremation is expected to take place in Patiala on Sunday.
