Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi are likely to get minister posts
Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi, Delhi legislators and prominent leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), will replace Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in Delhi cabinet, the party has said. Mr Sisodia and Mr Jain, both jailed in corruption cases, stepped down as ministers last evening.
Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has sent necessary documents to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to proceed with the appointments, sources said. Chief Minister Kejriwal has called a meeting of AAP MLAs and councillors this evening during which the party is expected to discuss ministerial berths and other key challenges it is facing now.
Mr Bharadwaj represents the south Delhi's Greater Kailash constituency and is also the chief spokesperson of the AAP. He is also vice-chairman of Delhi Jal Board, the agency responsible for supplying water to the national capital. He was a cabinet minister in the AAP government during the 49-day tenure in 2013-14 after which Mr Kejriwal had stepped down, taking responsibility for the failure to bring the anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill.
Ms Atishi is MLA from Kalkaji is a member of the AAP's political affairs committee. She has served as an advisor to Mr Sisodia, primarily on education, between 2015 and 2017. A Rhodes scholar, she has risen as a prominent face of the party over the past few years.
Speaking to NDTV, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said Chief Minister Kejriwal had chosen Mr Bharadwaj and Ms Atishi for the top jobs. "Both of them are eligible and capable of doing the job well."
"This is challenging time for us. Our two honest, truthful ministers who gave Delhi its health and education models are in jail," he added, stressing that work for the welfare Delhi would not be derailed.
Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia, who held charge of as many as 18 departments, and Health Minister Jain stepped down last evening. The resignations came hours after Supreme Court refused relief to Mr Sisodia and asked him to challenge his arrest in the liquor policy case in Delhi High Court.
The BJP had been questioning why the two ministers continue to hold cabinet berths despite being arrested in corruption cases.
The AAP yesterday stressed that the resignations were not an acceptance of guilt and described it as an "administrative step".
For now, Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand is handling the departments of education and health, AAP's key focus areas. Kailash Gahlot is looking after the vital power and water supply departments.
Mr Sisodia, who was arrested on Sunday over allegations of corruption in the liquor policy case, said he could be in jail for "7-8 months".
"I am stepping away till the charges against me are proven false," he wrote in his resignation.
"There are likely to be more cases against me... God knows these allegations are false," he said, and stressed that he has been charged with corruption despite working honestly for the past eight years.
The AAP Number Two, credited with revamping Delhi's government schools, is currently in the CBI's custody.
Mr Jain has been in jail since in arrest in May last in a money laundering case. He is currently in judicial custody.
The Constitution provides for a maximum of seven ministers for Delhi -- 10 per cent of the total number of 70 Assembly seats.