Chandigarh, Jan. 9 -- Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday effected a significant reshuffle in his cabinet, handing the important local government portfolio to cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora ahead of the crucial municipal elections in the state.

Arora, who was inducted into the cabinet six months ago, will now hold the portfolios of power, local government, industry and commerce, and investment promotion. Ravjot Singh, who had been handling the local government and parliamentary affairs portfolios since September 23, 2024, has been divested of local government and given NRI affairs instead. Arora held the NRI affairs portfolio earlier.

The changes in portfolios of the two cabinet ministers were made by Mann in consultation wi...