AAP MLAs Kailash Gahlot and Rajender Pal Gautam were inducted as Ministers into the Delhi government on Friday.
The appointments were made after their names were cleared by President Pranab Mukherjee.
Challenges ahead
The move triggered a reshuffle in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Cabinet, with Mr. Gahlot named the city’s new Transport Minister. Mr. Gautam, AAP’s Seemapuri MLA, was given the charge of the Water Ministry, which was formerly held by sacked AAP member Kapil Mishra.
The portfolios were allocated to the Ministers by Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal at the Secretariat. Mr. Kejriwal and Delhi Assembly Speaker Ramniwas Goel were present on the occasion.
Transport is expected to emerge as a challenge for Mr. Gahlot, with proposals seeking addition to the DTC bus fleet yet to see the light of the day. Mr. Gahlot, AAP’s Najafgarh MLA, was also allocated the departments of Law and Justice, Information Technology and Administrative Reforms, which were earlier held by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Mr. Gautam’s new position brings him challenges, too. The AAP government has promised to provide tap water to every household by the end of this year. He will also handle the departments of Social Welfare and SC/ST Welfare, and Tourism, Art and Culture, besides gurdwara elections.
Weight off shoulders
According to an official, some portfolios held by Mr. Sisodia and Mr. Jain were given to the new Ministers as they were “already loaded with several portfolios”.
