New Delhi: In yet another portfolio reshuffle, health and transport minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday was given charge of the urban development department, relieving deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia of the portfolio.
The move is seen as a step to minimise Mr Sisodia’s workload who, according to sources, wants to focus more on the education sector. Besides, being the deputy chief minister, Mr Sisodia takes care of chief ministerial work in the absence of Mr Kejriwal who, in the coming time, will be busy campaigning in Punjab, Goa, and Gujarat where elections are scheduled next year.
However, the government has attributed the change to better coordination of work between Mr Sisodia and Mr Jain both of whom hold important portfolios in the Kejriwal Cabinet.
The deputy CM holds charge of about 11 departments including education, finance, planning, land and building, revenue, vigilance, services, administrative reforms, information technology, law and justice. Mr Jain, who now has the urban development department in his kitty, also holds portfolios like power, home, PWD, transport, health and industries.
This article was first published in The Asian Age.
