Sanjeev Arora, who recently resigned from the Rajya Sabha and won the Ludhiana West by-election, has been appointed as the new NRI, Industry and Commerce Minister in the Punjab government. He was sworn in as the 17th minister during a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on Thursday. Arora’s entry into the cabinet comes as a fulfillment of the promise made to him by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership following his electoral win.
This marks the seventh cabinet expansion in the nearly three-and-a-half-year tenure of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government. The NRI Affairs portfolio was previously held by Kuldeep Dhaliwal, who has now stepped down from the cabinet. The Industry portfolio, earlier managed by Minister Tarunpreet, has also been reassigned to Arora. Tarunpreet now retains only the Panchayat and Culture Departments.
Following his resignation, Dhaliwal stated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had asked him to make way for new leadership, and he agreed without protest. “I have no interest in departmental politics,” he said, emphasizing that he had willingly resigned from his post.
With Sanjeev Arora’s inclusion and Dhaliwal’s exit, the Punjab cabinet now has 16 ministers, leaving one seat still vacant. The reshuffle is seen as a strategic move to boost governance and fulfill political commitments, especially in urban constituencies like Ludhiana. This will make changes in 2027 Vidhansabha Elections.
Now with Sanjeev Arora induction reflects the AAP government’s focus on strengthening its urban leadership and giving representation to winning candidates. His new responsibilities in the NRI and Industry sectors will be crucial, given Punjab’s significant diaspora and industrial presence. His experience in business is expected to help attract investment and enhance economic growth in the state. As the government moves into the latter half of its term, such reshuffles may continue to align performance with political priorities. Now just waiting for 2027 Elections.