New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday allocated portfolios to his six Cabinet colleagues while keeping key departments of Home, Finance, Power and Vigilance with himself. The Chief Minister will also keep Planning, Services and all other departments not allocated to the Ministers. Manish Sisodia, considered close to Kejriwal, has been given the charges of Revenue, PWD, Urban Development, Education, Higher Education, Local Bodies and Land and Building departments.
In his first press conference after being sworn-in as the Chief Minister, Kejriwal said Somnath Bharti, a postgraduate from IIT Delhi, will take the charge of Administrative Reforms, Law, Tourism and Culture. Administrative Reforms is high on Kejriwal's agenda with efforts to decentralise power and establish the Mohalla Sabha. The department is also likely to take steps to bring an end to the VIP culture and also provide time bound and efficient services to the people.
The youngest Minister in Kejriwal's Cabinet, Rakhi Birla will handle Social Welfare and Women and Child Development departments. She has also been given the additional charge to formulate steps required for enhancing security of women. Girish Soni has been given charge of Labour, Development Skill Development and SC/ST departments. Satyendra Jain has been allocated Health, Industries and Gurudwara Elections.
Kejriwal said a Cabinet meeting in the afternoon will decide the dates for convening the assembly as well as possible steps to end VIP culture in the city. "We will discuss three issues in the Cabinet which include finalising date to convene the assembly, steps required to end VIP culture like restricting use of red beacons and security by government officials and MLAs in Delhi," he said.
Kejriwal said he will have separate meetings with officials from Power and Transport departments, Indraprastha Gas Ltd, Delhi Jal Board. He said he will also meet Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi. The Chief Minister said, if required, he will hold a second Cabinet meeting later in the evening.
