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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s cousin Gian Singh joins BJP in Chandigarh
Gian Singh Mann, the first cousin of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at its Chandigarh headquarters. The induction was attended by Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, and signals a shift from his AAP-supporting past. The BJP aims to portray internal dissent within AAP ahead of Punjab's upcoming assembly elections.
Why It Matters
The move brings a high-profile family-linked defection into Punjab's political contest, potentially influencing party dynamics ahead of the assembly polls.
Timeline
3 Events
Gian Singh Mann joins BJP at state BJP HQ, Chandigarh
May 11, 2026
Gian Singh Mann officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the state BJP headquarters in Sector 37, Chandigarh, in the presence of Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar.
Campaigning role for AAP in 2022 Punjab assembly elections
2022
He later played a proactive role in the campaigning efforts that led to the AAP’s landslide victory in the 2022 Punjab assembly elections.
Active ground presence during Bhagwant Mann’s Sangrur MP tenure
2014
During Bhagwant Mann’s tenure as the Member of Parliament from Sangrur (2014–2022), Gian Singh was an active presence on the ground.