Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashish Khetan, on Wednesday, tendered his resignation from the post of vice-chairman of the AAP government’s advisory body, the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi, saying that he wanted to practise law with sources indicating that another senior party hand, Atishi Marlena, may succeed him.
The likely appointment of Ms. Marlena could take place after her removal as adviser to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, following a direction of the Union Home Ministry, a day earlier. Sources claimed Mr. Khetan’s resignation had been accepted by the General Administration Department (GAD).
Arunoday Prakash and Amardeep Tiwari, the other advisers who were removed along with Ms. Marlena, could also be accommodated in government-associated bodies after the GAD of the Delhi government cancelled the appointment of 10 advisers to its Ministers, including of the two aiding Mr. Sisodia, on the directions of the Home Ministry.
Mr. Khetan, a journalist-turned-politician and a trusted aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was appointed the vice-chairman of the DDC, which was headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, three years ago.
“I have resigned as VC, DDC, with effect from April 16. During the past three years I had a unique opportunity to shape public policy & bring about reform and change in governance. I am grateful to Arvind Kejriwal, the Hon’ble CM, for giving me this wonderful opportunity (sic),” Mr. Khetan wrote on Twitter.
“I am joining the legal profession and enrolling with the Bar at Delhi, which actually necessitated my resignation from the DDC. Bar Council Rules prohibit practicing advocates from any kind of private or government employment (sic),” he said in another tweet. Mr. Khetan said besides pursuing routine cases he would take up legal causes in the larger public interest.
CM to take final call
Meanwhile, Ms. Marlena’s name, according to party sources, was “the first choice for the post” being vacated by Mr. Khetan, even as a final call was expected to be taken by the Chief Minister “soon”.
In a detailed statement about the achievements of the DDC on Facebook, Mr. Khetan said in a span of three years, the commission had formulated over 75 major policy recommendations and a few key legislations.
“In every area of governance — be it water, sewerage, energy, health, education, transport or urban development — DDC has left its imprint. Besides, the policy related work, different departments consult with the commission and seek its advice on a range of administrative and governance issues...,” it stated.
It also stated that in the coming years, the main challenge before the commission was to keep guiding and advising the departments while ensuring that the departments spearhead the execution of policy recommendations made by the commission.
