Spokesperson for AAP and Vice President of DJB Bharadwaj is a three-term MLA who served as transport and environment minister in Kejriwal’s first government in 2013-14. Atishi, elected MLA for the first time in 2020, has worked with Sisodia on the city’s education system.
Sisodia subjected to mental torture by the CBI: AAP leader Atishi Marlena
The names of Atishi and Bharadwaj were forwarded by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal following the resignations of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, which were accepted by Murmu.
Sisodia, who ran 18 of Delhi’s 33 government departments, was arrested last month by the CBI over alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi’s excise policy. Jain, also held in Tihar Jail, was arrested by ED in May last year in connection with a money laundering case.
Till Atishi and Bhardwaj are sworn in, Raaj Kumar ministers Anand and Kailash Gahlot will take charge of the portfolios left vacant following Sisodia’s resignation. Gahlot deals with finance, PWD, and power, among others. Anand, who was in charge of the social welfare department, is in charge of education and health.
Bharadwaj is a three-term MLA who also served as transport and environment minister in Kejriwal’s first 49-day government in 2013-14. In addition to being the chief spokesman for the AAP, he is currently in charge of cleaning the Yamuna and bringing water from the pipes to all households as a vice chairman of the Delhi Jal Board.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi to replace Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain as ministers: Sanjay Singh
Atishi, who was first elected to the Delhi assembly in 2020, has been working closely with Sisodia to improve the city’s schools and education system. He is also among the most vocal leaders of the AAP.
This is the second time that government reform has been needed in the current mandate of the GPA government. In October last year, Rajendra Pal Gautam was replaced by Raaj Kumar Anand after the former resigned following a row over his attendance at a religious conversion event.
