OP Soni is an Indian politician representing the Indian National Congress (INC). OP Soni was elected Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly from Amritsar Central for two consecutive terms and is also a Minister in the Government of Punjab and manages the School Education Department.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Om Prakash Soni, better known as OP Soni, was born on Wednesday, 3 July 1957 (age 64 years; as in 2021) in Bhilowal, Amritsar, Punjab. His zodiac sign is Cancer. OP Soni completed his schooling from Government Senior Secondary School, Lopoke, Punjab. In 1991, OP Soni started his political journey with the Indian National Congress (INC).
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 8″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
parents and siblings
OP Soni’s father’s name is Jagat Mitter Soni and mother’s name is Prem Soni.
wife and children
OP Soni is married to Suman Soni and has a son, Vikas Soni.
OP Soni with his wife
Religion
OP Soni considers Hinduism as his religion.
livelihood
OP Soni’s career as a politician began when he was appointed Mayor of Amritsar. In 1997, OP Soni contested the elections for Punjab Assembly from Amritsar West constituency and won. After completing his first term in 1997, OP Soni was appointed from Amritsar West constituency twice (2002 and 2007). In 2009, OP Soni contested the parliamentary elections against Navjot Singh Sidhu, but he lost the election by a slim margin of 6,858 votes. After serving three successful terms, OP Soni decided to cover more service areas and contested the 2012 Legislative Assembly election from Amritsar Central. He won the election and in 2017, he was again elected as MLA for the same constituency. In 2017, Captain Amarinder Singh was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Punjab and OP Soni was ignored in the cabinet selection process. However, in 2018 OP Soni was appointed School Education Minister. On 20 September 2021, Charanjit Singh Channi was appointed as the Chief Minister of Punjab, and he appointed OP Soni and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa as two Deputy Chief Ministers, and the swearing-in ceremony took place at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh. The ceremony was organized in the presence of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Navjot Singh Sidhu and party state in-charge Harish Rawat.
(L-R) OP Soni, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Banwarilal Purohit, Charanjit Singh Channi, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Rahul Gandhi, Harish Rawat.
Controversy
Surveillance Bureau arrested
He was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on 9 July 2023 on suspicion of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income between 2016 and 2022. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him under Section 13(1)(b) and IPC. Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act. This action was taken following an investigation initiated on October 10, 2022.
net worth
According to the affidavit given by OP Soni during the 2017 assembly elections, his net worth is Rs. 17.28 crores.
property/property
Ambulatory
- Deposits in banks, financial institutions etc: Rs. 9.20 lakh
- LIC or other insurance: Rs. 16 lakhs
- Motor Vehicle: Rs. 4.50 lakh
- Jewellery: Rs. 68.75 lakh
- Cash: Rs. 6.20 lakh
immovable
- Agricultural Land: Rs. 2 crores
- Non-agricultural land: Rs. 2.24 crores
- Residential Building: Rs. 13 crores
Facts/General Knowledge
- In November 2016, several senior Congress party leaders like Captain Amarinder Singh and Pratap Singh Bajwa along with the MLAs went to the Punjab Assembly Secretary’s office to submit their resignations. The move was taken in protest against the judgment given by the Supreme Court of India in the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (YSL); The decision was in favor of the state of Haryana.
- Following the results of the 2009 parliamentary elections, OP Soni challenged the results in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and he also filed a defamation case in Amritsar against Navjot Singh Sidhu after Sidhu accused him of being involved in a drug smuggling racket. Was accused of. When Sidhu joined the Congress party in 2017, Soni withdrew the case.
- In 2018, Captain Amarinder Singh had ordered mandatory drug testing of all government employees. This campaign was launched to fight the problem of drug abuse in the state of Punjab. Subsequently, OP Soni, along with his son Vikas Soni, went to a government-approved testing laboratory to hand over their urine samples for the testing process.
OP Soni handing over urine samples for testing with his son Vikas Soni
- During the selection of the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, it was reported that Brahm Mohindra would be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister; However, in the morning it was revealed that his name had been changed to OP Soni. Sources have revealed that Sidhu had a role in the sudden change and OP Soni’s name was taken for this change due to his closeness to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In 2017, during the cabinet minister selection meeting, OP Soni’s name was personally suggested by Manmohan Singh for the post of minister.
- In 2019, Captain Amarinder Singh changed OP Soni’s post and made him the Minister of Medical Education and Research and in response to this, Soni decided to protest the decision and did not take charge of the office for two weeks. He also went on record and blamed several senior party members, saying that it was due to their interference that the reshuffle took place, which affected many ministers as they lost their desired portfolios.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn