Freshly inducted into the Punjab Cabinet, the newly-elected Ludhiana West MLA Sanjeev Arora formally assumed charge on Friday as the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Investment Promotion, and NRI Affairs at the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. A well-known industrialist and philanthropist himself, Arora pledged to work with “devotion and dedication”, promising to turn Punjab — and especially the industrial city of Ludhiana — into a growth engine for industry, investment, and innovation.
Taking over the reins from outgoing Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, Arora praised his predecessor for the reforms initiated during his tenure and assured that all ongoing projects will be carried forward with renewed momentum. “Tarunpreet Sondh has done commendable work for the industry sector. I will ensure continuity and build further on the foundation he has laid. My focus will be on creating ease of doing business for every entrepreneur, big or small,” said Arora after taking charge.
In a significant announcement, Arora revealed that Ludhiana, the industrial heart of Punjab, will soon have its long-demanded exhibition centre — a facility the city’s industrialists have been seeking for years. “This is a vital need for Ludhiana’s MSMEs and export-oriented units. We will fast-track the project to create a world-class venue where industry can showcase innovation, host buyers, and attract investments,” he said while interacting with the media.
He also reiterated the AAP Government’s commitment to generate employment by facilitating investments from major corporate players, citing Tata Steel’s recent decision to invest in Punjab as a “positive signal” of investor confidence.
Arora’s induction into state cabinet came after his decisive victory in the Ludhiana West bypoll, held following the tragic demise of sitting AAP MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi. AAP had fielded Arora after he resigned from the Rajya Sabha, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and party supremo Arvind Kejriwal publicly assuring voters that Arora would be made a minister if elected. Arora won with a thumping margin of 10,637 votes, securing over 43 percent more votes than Congress rival Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
Present at the charge-taking ceremony were senior Cabinet colleagues, including Dr Balbir Singh, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Dr Baljit Kaur, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, and Laljit Singh Bhullar, along with MLAs and senior bureaucrat,s including Kamal Kishor Yadav (IAS), Surabhi Malik (IAS), Senu Duggal (IAS), AS Rai (IPS), and State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu.
