Arvind Kejriwal not to retain any portfolio: Manish Sisodia

Posted on Feb 14 2015 - 4:44pm by IBC News

New Delhi, Feb. 14: Manish Sisodia, who took charge as the deputy chief minister of Delhi earlier today, on Saturday said that he would be heading the departments which are yet to be allocated and added that Arvind Kejriwal will not be keeping any portfolio with him.

“Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has not retained any ministry for himself. Also, I will look after Finance, planning, education, revenue and any other department that has not been allocated to any minister yet,” said Sisodia.

He further announced the names of the ministers who have been allocated specific departments.

“We had a meeting with the chief minister and allocation of portfolios for the ministers was done.

Sandeep Kumar will be taking care of the ministry of women and child social welfare, and language, SC/ST. Gopal Rai will be in charge of transport, development, labour, general administration department and employment,” he said.

“Asim Ahmed Khan will look after the food and civil supply, environment and forest, and election departments . Jitender Singh Tomar will be in charge of law and justice, home, tourism, art and culture. Satyendar Jain to be in charge of power ministry, health, industries, PWD and IFC,” said Sisodia.

“I have been asked to work as the deputy chief minister of Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal will be in charge of three main sectors.

To make the ministry work effectively and supervise their work to make changes in the system making use of modern technologies and to connect directly to the people of Delhi,” he added.

Earlier in the day, party chief Arvind Kejriwal was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Delhi’s Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung. Meanwhile, Manish Sisodia took charge as the deputy chief minister.

In an unprecedented first for the national capital, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party won 67of the 70 seats on offer in the Delhi polls. With this extraordinary mandate, the AAP has become the first non-Congress and non-BJP party to rule the city.

The Congress which was in power in Delhi for 15 years failed to even open its account in the polls.

The BJP, which was relying heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and had brought in former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as its chief ministerial candidate to counter Kejriwal, managed to secure just three seats.