Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 17 October 2026, extended birthday greetings to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, wishing him a long and healthy life. Modi shared the message on social media platform X, writing: 'Birthday greetings to Punjab Chief Minister Shri Bhagwant Mann Ji. Praying for his long and healthy life.'

From Satoj Village to the Chief Minister's Chair

Bhagwant Mann was born in 1973 in Satoj village of Sangrur district, Punjab, into a family of schoolteachers. He graduated in Commerce from Shaheed Udham Singh Government College in 1992. Even during his college years, Mann demonstrated an early flair for entertainment, releasing an audio cassette at the age of 18 that quickly found a popular audience.

A Comedy Career That Built a Political Base

Mann rose to national prominence through the television shows Jugnu Kehnda Hai and Jugnu Mast Mast, becoming a household name across Punjab. His sharp social and political satire earned him widespread recognition, particularly after he participated in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge on Star Plus in 2008. He also featured in the National Award-winning film Main Maa Punjab Dee.

Political Journey: From Debut to AAP's Face in Punjab

At the peak of his comedy career, Mann entered politics by joining the People's Party of Punjab, founded by Manpreet Singh Badal, nephew of Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal. He contested his first Assembly election in 2012 from the Lehra constituency in Sangrur, facing former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

Following the People's Party's merger with the Indian National Congress, Mann switched to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the invitation of its National Convener Arvind Kejriwal. In 2014, he won the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, defeating senior Akali leader S.S. Dhindsa. By 2017, he had become AAP's most prominent face in the state, though he briefly resigned as the party's state president in 2018 after Kejriwal apologised to Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a defamation case — a move that strained Mann, who had frequently criticised Majithia publicly. He was reappointed as state president a year later. In 2019, Mann retained his Lok Sabha seat, remaining AAP's sole Member of Parliament from Punjab.

Chief Minister Since 2022

Mann was sworn in as Chief Minister of Punjab on 16 March 2022, following AAP's landslide victory in the state Assembly elections. He won from the Dhuri Assembly seat by a margin of over 58,000 votes. The birthday greeting from Prime Minister Modi — whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AAP are political rivals at the national level — underscores the customary courtesies observed across party lines on such occasions.