CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has created history by appointing Harpal Singh Cheema as Finance Minister of Punjab. Cheema has become first dalit leader to hold the fiasnca portfolio.
Cheema today took charge of his office at third floor of Punjab Civil Secretariat in the presence of his admirers, party leaders and senior officers of the department.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also given him responsibility of Planning, Programme implementation, Excise and Taxation and Cooperation departments. Cheema is now most important minister in the Mann cabinet. He was made Leader of opposition by AAP in 2018. At one stage it was speculated that Cheema would be made deputy chief minister in Mann government. AAP had announced that a dalit leader will be deputy chief minister.
Cheema is one of the most active and energetic leaders of AAP. He worked hard during Covid pandemic and reached out to needy people in hour of crisis.