Harsimrat Kaur Badal retains her post of Minister of Food Processing Industries

Harsimrat Kaur Badal is the only member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) who will be part of the new cabinet of the 17th Lok Sabha.

Badal was previously the minister for food processing in the first term of the Narendra Modi government. Badal was elected for the third consecutive time from Bathinda, where she defeated Congress’ Amrinder Singh Warring by small margin of over 21,772 votes. This was an improvement from her 2014 tally, where she had won by 19,395 votes.

Harsimrat Kaur holds a degree in textile design and is a mother to three children. Badal is also a patron of Nanhi Chhaan, a non-profit organisation that works on social issues like gender, skills, environment and harmony.

“After assuming charge of @MOFPI_GOI office for a second term, I am on #thanksgiving tour of my constituency now. Indebted to all my voters & supporters for this third time #Victory, I assure them to do my best to meet the expectations that have been set for me #MaurMandi #meeting,” tweeted Badal as she met with the people in her constituency.

Badal is the wife of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, and the daughter-in-law of Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal. Sukhbir Singh Badal won the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat in the recent general elections.

Sukhbir Singh Badal was the deputy chief minister of Punjab and his father, Parkash Singh Badal, is a four-time chief minister.

“I am immensely grateful to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji for ensuring representation for people of Punjab by including a member of @Akali_Dal_ in the Union council of ministers. The PM has shown yet again that he will always guard the best interests of Punjab,” Sukhbir Badal has tweeted after his wife took the oath for the office.