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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Harpal Singh Cheema
| image = File:H. S. Cheema.png
| imagesize =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|02|10}}
| birth_place = [[Nabha, Punjab]], [[India]]
| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater = [[Punjabi University]], [[Patiala]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = [[Mann ministry|Cabinet Minister]], [[Government of Punjab (India)|Government of Punjab]]
| predecessor = [[Manpreet Singh Badal]]
| successor =
| governor = [[Banwarilal Purohit]]<br>[[Gulab Chand Kataria]]
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 1namedata = [[Bhagwant Mann]]
| subterm = '''Cabinet'''
| suboffice = [[Mann ministry]]
| 2blankname = Ministry and Departments
| 2namedata =
* [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Finance]]
* [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Planning]]
* [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Programme Implementation]]
* [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Excise & Taxation]]<ref name="Mann keeps Home, 26 others, gives Finance to Cheema; Mines to Bains">{{cite news |last1= |title=Mann keeps Home, 26 others, gives Finance to Cheema; Mines to Bains |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/bhagwant-mann-keeps-home-harpal-singh-cheema-gets-finance-7830421/ |accessdate=23 March 2022 |date=22 March 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323164504/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/bhagwant-mann-keeps-home-harpal-singh-cheema-gets-finance-7830421/ |archivedate=23 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
| term_start = 21 March 2022
| term_end =

| office1 =[[Mann ministry|Punjab Cabinet minister]] for [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Dept. of Cooperation]]
| term_start1 = 21 March 2022
| term_end1 = 4 July 2022
| predecessor1 = [[Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa]]
| successor1 = [[Bhagwant Mann]]

| office2 = [[Punjab Legislative Assembly|Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly]]<ref>[http://www.punjabassembly.nic.in/index.php/members/detail/72 Members detail ''punjabassembly.nic.in'']</ref>
| constituency2 = [[Dirba Assembly constituency|Dirba]]
| term_start2 = 11 March 2017
| predecessor2 = Balvir Singh
| party = [[Aam Aadmi Party]]
| office3 = [[List of Leader of Opposition in Punjab Legislative Assembly|Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Legislative assembly]]
| term_start3 = 27 July 2018
| term_end3 = 10 March 2022
| governor3={{unbulleted_list|[[V. P. Singh Badnore]]<br>[[Banwarilal Purohit]]}}
| predecessor3 = [[Sukhpal Singh Khaira]]
| successor3 = [[Pratap Singh Bajwa]]
| occupation = Politician
| residence = [[Dirba]]
| alias =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Harpal Singh Cheema''' (born 10 February 1974) is an [[Aam Aadmi Party]] MLA from [[Dirba Assembly constituency]] located in [[Sangrur District]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://punjab.gov.in/mlas|title=Government of Punjab, India|website=punjab.gov.in|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref> In March 2022, he became first BobA to be a finance minister of Punjab.<ref>{{cite web | title=Harpal Singh Cheema becomes first Dalit leader to be Finance Minister of Punjab | website= Punjab News Express | date=2022-03-27 | url=https://www.punjabnewsexpress.com/punjab/news/harpal-singh-cheema-becomes-first-dalit-leader-to-be-finance-minister-of-punjab-161857 | ref={{sfnref | Punjab News Express | 2022}} | access-date=2022-03-27}}</ref>
He joined the [[Aam Aadmi Party]] just before the [[2017 Punjab Legislative Assembly election]]. He contested and won the election from [[Dirba Assembly constituency]] against a popular Punjabi Kabbadi player Gulzar Singh Moonak from [[Shiromani Akali Dal]] and Ajaib Singh Ratolan from [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=2017 Dirba - Punjab Assembly Election Winner, LIVE Results & Latest News: Election Dates, Polling Schedule, Election Results & Live Election Updates|url=https://www.india.com/assembly-election-2017/punjab/dirba/|access-date=2021-06-17|website=India.com|language=en}}</ref> In July 2018 he was appointed leader of opposition of [[Punjab Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/aap-replaces-its-punjab-leader-of-opposition-sukhpal-khaira/articleshow/65151328.cms|title=AAP replaces Punjab leader of opposition Sukhpal Khaira with Harpal Singh Cheema - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref>

==Career==
A graduate from Government Ranbir College, [[Sangrur]], and having done his LLB from [[Punjabi University]], [[Patiala]], he also participated in student politics as the campus president of Left-leaning [[Students' Federation of India]] (SFI) while studying law.<ref>{{cite web | author=The Tribune India | title=Three Punjab Cabinet ministers started political innings with Left politics | website=The Tribune | date=2022-03-20 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/three-started-political-innings-with-left-politics-379017 | access-date=2022-03-27}}</ref> He led the Sangrur Bar Association in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=From Bar politics to leader of oppn in Punjab assembly, AAP’s Cheema emerges as Dalit leader |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/from-bar-politics-to-leader-of-oppn-in-punjab-assembly-aap-s-cheema-emerges-as-dalit-leader/story-fGms0I8JDGtn6iCXdFivQM.html |accessdate=22 June 2020 |publisher=The Hindustan Times |date=27 July 2018 |archive-date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016113314/https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/from-bar-politics-to-leader-of-oppn-in-punjab-assembly-aap-s-cheema-emerges-as-dalit-leader/story-fGms0I8JDGtn6iCXdFivQM.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a lawyer, he is also fighting AAP’s Delhi MLA Naresh Yadav’s case in the district courts over accusations of Quran desecration in Malerkotla in 2016.

==Member of Legislative Assembly, 2017–2022==
In a triangular fight from Dirba, he defeated Congress candidate Ajaib Singh Ratol and [[Shiromani Akali Dal]]’s Gulzar Singh.

In 2017–2018 he was in the Punjab Assembly committee on government assurances. From 2017 to 2019, he was in the committee on welfare of [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] and [[Other Backward Class]].<ref name="Playing 20 March 2022">{{cite news |title=The playing 11: CM Bhagwant Mann’s cabinet ministers |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/the-playing-11-cm-bhagwant-manns-cabinet-ministers-7827473/ |access-date=22 March 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=20 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
;[[Punjab Legislative Assembly#Committees|Committee assignments of Punjab Legislative Assembly]]
*Member (2017–2018) [[Punjab Assembly Committee on Government Assurances|Committee on Government Assurances]]<ref name="Playing 20 March 2022" />
*Member (2017–2019) [[Punjab Assembly Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes|Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes]]<ref name="Playing 20 March 2022" />

==Leader of opposition==
In [[Fifteenth Punjab Legislative Assembly]] [[Aam Aadmi Party]] was the main [[Opposition (politics)|opposition]] party. Since July 2018, Cheema served as the [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly|leader of opposition]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/aap-removes-khaira-appoints-harpal-cheema-as-leader-of-opposition/626983.html | title=AAP removes Khaira, appoints Harpal Cheema as leader of opposition | work=The Tribune | date=2018-07-27 | access-date=2018-07-27 | archive-date=27 July 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727084818/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/aap-removes-khaira-appoints-harpal-cheema-as-leader-of-opposition/626983.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> with [[Saravjit Kaur Manuke]] as the deputy leader of opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2017/state-editions/mann-made-aaps-punjab-chief-arora-his-deputy.html|title=AAP's new leaders after election}}</ref><ref name="Playing 20 March 2022" /> His term as the leader of the opposition ended with the dissolution of the Fifteenth Punjab assembly on 11 March 2022. The dissolution was necessitated after the results of the election were declared on 10 March.<ref name="Dissolved 11 March 2022">{{cite news |title=Punjab Governor dissolves 15th Punjab Assembly |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/states/punjab-governor-dissolves-15th-punjab-assembly-1503051390.html |access-date=27 March 2022 |work=The Statesman |date=11 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="recommends dissolution 11 March 2022">{{cite news |title=Punjab Cabinet recommends Governor for dissolution of 15th Punjab Assembly |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/chandigarh/punjab-cabinet-recommends-governor-dissolution-15th-punjab-assembly-1503051314.html |access-date=27 March 2022 |work=The Statesman |date=11 March 2022}}</ref>

==Member of Legislative Assembly, 2022–2027==
He was elected as the [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] in the [[2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election]]. He represented the [[Dirba Assembly constituency]] in the [[Punjab Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pioneer |first1=The |title=Kejriwal promised to end ‘Parcha Raj’, says all fake cases to be dismissed |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/kejriwal-promised-to-end----parcha-raj-----says-all-fake-cases-to-be-dismissed.html |access-date=12 March 2022 |work=The Pioneer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=AAP wins 5 of 7 segments in Hoshiarpur district |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/elections/punjab-assembly-election/aap-wins-5-of-7-segments-in-hoshiarpur-district-101646915266540.html |access-date=12 March 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=10 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Cheema took oath as a cabinet minister along with nine other MLAs on 19 March at Guru Nanak Dev auditorium of [[Raj Bhavan, Punjab|Punjab Raj Bhavan]] in [[Chandigarh]].<ref name="Tribune 18 March 2022">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Ten Punjab ministers to take oath on Saturday |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/punjab-ministers-to-take-oath-on-saturday-378869 |access-date=18 March 2022 |work=Tribuneindia News Service |date=18 March 2022 |language=en |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318092034/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/punjab-ministers-to-take-oath-on-saturday-378869 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NDTV 25K 19 March 2022">{{cite news |title=25,000 Government Jobs For Punjab: New Chief Minister's 1st Decision |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/25-000-government-jobs-for-punjab-new-chief-minister-bhagwant-manns-1st-decision-2831372 |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=NDTV.com |agency=Press Trust of India |date=19 March 2022 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319125442/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/25-000-government-jobs-for-punjab-new-chief-minister-bhagwant-manns-1st-decision-2831372 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Aam Aadmi Party gained a strong 79% majority in the [[sixteenth Punjab Legislative Assembly]] by winning 92 out of [[List of constituencies of the Punjab Legislative Assembly|117 seats]] in the [[2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election]]. MP [[Bhagwant Mann]] was sworn in as [[List of chief ministers of Punjab (India)|Chief Minister]] on 16 March 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=16 March 2022 |title=AAP's Bhagwant Mann sworn in as Punjab Chief Minister |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/punjab-assembly/aaps-bhagwant-mann-sworn-in-as-punjab-cm/article65230309.ece |access-date=22 March 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In September 2022, Aam Aadmi Party, the ruling party in Punjab, accused BJP of spending ₹1375 Crore in Punjab to bribe the AAP MLAs under [[Operation Kamala|Operation Lotus]]. Punjab's Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said in a press conference, "Our MLAs have been approached with offers of up to Rs 25 crore to break away from AAP. The MLAs were told: “bade bau ji se milwayenge”. These MLAs have also been offered big posts. They were told that if you get more MLAs along, you would be given up to Rs 75 crore."<ref name="Tribune News 13 September 2022">{{cite news |title=BJP trying to topple AAP government in Punjab, offering Rs 25 crore to MLAs: Minister |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/bjp-trying-to-topple-aap-government-in-punjab-says-finance-minister-harpal-cheema-431321 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=Tribuneindia News Service |date=13 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Indian Express 13 September 2022">{{cite news |title=BJP is calling AAP MLAs, offering money and threatening to join: Punjab minister |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/bjp-aap-mlas-threatening-harpal-cheema-8149086/ |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=13 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==Cabinet Minister==
As a cabinet minister in the [[Mann ministry]], Cheema was given the charge of five departments of the [[Government of Punjab, India|Punjab Government]]:<ref name="Tribune News 21 March 2022">{{cite news |title=Punjab portfolios announced; CM Mann keeps Home and Vigilance, Cheema gets Finance, Singla Health, Harbhajan Power |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/punjab-portfolios-announced-cheema-gets-finance-and-revenue-harbhajan-eto-power-dr-baljit-women-welfare-and-child-development-379489 |access-date=21 March 2022 |work=Tribuneindia News Service |date=21 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
# Department of Finance
# Department of Planning
# Department of Programme Implementation
# Department of Excise & Taxation
# Department of Cooperation

On 5 July, Bhagwant Mann announced the [[Mann ministry#Council of Ministers|expansion of his cabinet of ministers]] with five new ministers to the departments of Punjab state government. Cheema's charge of Cooperation ministry ended on 5 July with CM Bhagwant Mann taking the charge of the same. Cheema continued to hold the charge of following departments.<ref name="Tribune News 05 July 2022">{{cite news |title=Punjab Cabinet expansion: Anmol Gagan gets tourism; Indervir Nijjar local bodies, Chetan Singh health |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/punjab-cabinet-expansion-anmol-gagan-gets-tourism-indervir-nijjar-local-bodies-chetan-singh-health-409731 |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=Tribune India News Service |date=5 July 2022}}</ref>
# Department of Finance
# Department of Planning
# Department of Programme Implementation
# Department of Excise & Taxation

==Electoral performance ==
{{transcluded section|source=Dirba Assembly constituency}}
{{#section:Dirba Assembly constituency|Assembly Election 2017}}

{{#section:Dirba Assembly constituency|Assembly Election 2022}}

==Family==
Son of Mehar Singh and Manjeet Kaur, he was born in Cheema village in Dhuri subdivision, he has five siblings, two brothers and three sisters. Now he lives in Sangrur with his wife and a daughter.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Sukhpal Singh Khaira]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[List of Leader of Opposition in Punjab Legislative Assembly|Leader of Opposition]] in [[Fifteenth Punjab Legislative Assembly|15th Punjab Assembly]]|years = 2018–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Pratap Singh Bajwa]]}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa]] }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mann ministry|Punjab Cabinet minister]] for [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Cooperation]]
|years=March–July 2022}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bhagwant Maan]]}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Manpreet Singh Badal]] }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mann ministry|Punjab Cabinet minister]] for [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Finance]]
|years=since 2022}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Manpreet Singh Badal]] }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mann ministry|Punjab Cabinet minister]] for [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Excise & Taxation]]
|years=since 2022}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Manpreet Singh Badal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mann ministry|Punjab Cabinet minister]] for [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Planning]]
|years=since 2022}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Manpreet Singh Badal]] }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mann ministry|Punjab Cabinet minister]] for [[Departments of Government of Punjab, India|Programme Implementation]]
|years=since 2022}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-par|in-la}}
{{IN MLA box
| state= Punjab
| constituency= Dirba
| before= Balvir Singh
| after=
| years= since [[2017 Punjab Legislative Assembly election|2017]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheema, Harpal Singh}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Aam Aadmi Party politicians from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Punjab, India MLAs 2017–2022]]
[[Category:Punjab, India MLAs 2022–2027]]
[[Category:Mann ministry]]
[[Category:Finance ministers of Punjab, India]]

Harpal Singh Cheema - Revision history

Srivatsan at 03:42, 15 August 2025