Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj join Delhi cabinet, new deputy CM unlikely

The two AAP MLAs' elevation to the Delhi Cabinet came after the resignation of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday sworn in as ministers in Arvind Kejriwal's Cabinet.

Atishi will handle education, PWD, power, and tourism departments, while Bharadwaj will look after health, urban development, water, and industries. Delhi is unlikely to get a new Deputy Chief Minister as of now, a key portfolio earlier held by Sisodia.

The two AAP MLAs' elevation to the Delhi Cabinet came after the resignation of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain.

The AAP leaders are currently in Tihar jail in alleged corruption and money laundering cases, respectively.

Sisodia was arrested by CBI on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. He is in judicial custody till March 20.

Jain, who is also in judicial custody, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a case of alleged money laundering on May 30 last year.

President Draupadi Murmu earlier accepted the resignations of Sisodia and Jain.

LG Saxena had recommended the names of Atishi and Bharadwaj to President Murmu for appointment as Cabinet ministers following a recommendation from Kejriwal for their elevation to the Cabinet.

Atishi and Bharadwaj will be attending the Delhi Assembly's Budget Session commencing from March 17 as ministers after their swearing in on March 9.

Bharadwaj has been an MLA of the AAP since 2013 and is currently the vice-chairman of the Delhi Jal Board. He was a minister during the brief first term of the Kejriwal government in 2013.

Atishi has been an MLA of the AAP since 2020 and has been associated with the party since its inception. She was an advisor of Sisodia in his education portfolio.

According to the Constitution, the total number of ministers in the Delhi cabinet, including the Chief Minister, cannot exceed 10% of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of Delhi.

As of 2023, the Delhi Legislative Assembly has 70 members. Therefore, the Delhi cabinet can have a maximum of 7 ministers, in addition to the Chief Minister.