Sanjeev Arora inducted into Punjab Cabinet as Industry, NRI Affairs minister, Kuldeep Dhaliwal out

Sanjeev Arora, newly elected AAP MLA from Ludhiana West, has been allocated the portfolio of Department of Industry and Department of NRI Affairs.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who held the portfolio of NRI Affairs, has submitted his resignation.

Industry department was earlier with Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who will continue to have charge of Rural Development, Labour and Tourism departments.

With Dhaliwal’s resignation, the total number of ministers in Bhagwant Mann cabinet remains at 16. Two berths in the Cabinet continue to remain vacant.

Arora was earlier administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at Punjab Raj Bhawan.

With his induction, this is the seventh expansion of Punjab Cabinet during the over three year AAP regime.

The ceremony, which was conducted by Chief Secretary, Punjab, KAP Sinha, lasted for just six minutes. It began with the singing of the National Anthem, followed by the Governor administering oath to the new minister. The ceremony ended with a rendition of the National Anthem.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, his wife Gurpreet Kaur Mann, and many other ministers and dignitaries were present at the oath taking ceremony.