Kejriwal has no portfolio, Sisodia gets the bulk

In a surprise decision, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal won't hold any portfolio but oversee the work of all the ministers, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced Saturday.

The largest number of departments will be with Sisodia, including those of finance and power which were to have been held by Kejriwal.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain during the oath taking ceremony in Ramlila Maidan (Photo: Amlan Paliwal/IANS)

The Kejriwal-led new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will focus on curbing corruption, controlling price rise, and providing uninterrupted power and water, Sisodia told the media.

"Our top priority will be to serve the people in the best possible manner," he said, shortly after Kejriwal and his ministers drove to the Delhi Secretariat after taking oath at the Ramlila Maidan.

A long-time confidant of Kejriwal, Sisodia will now hold finance and planning, services, education, IT, technical education, administrative reforms, urban development, revenue, land and building and vigilance, and all other departments not allotted to any minister.

"Kejriwal will not hold any portfolio," Sisodia said, four days after the AAP won a sweeping victory in the Delhi assembly election.

"Kejriwal will oversee all ministries through modern technology. He will try to bring systemic changes," Sisodia said.

Kejriwal will connect with the people, Sisodia said. "He will meet people to know what their problems are. He will also oversee the MLAs."

Satyendra Jain, who like Sisodia was in the earlier 49-day Kejriwal government, would be the health minister and be in charge of industries, irrigation and flood control, public works department.

Gopal Rai, one of the four new faces in the Kejriwal ministry, will look after the departments of employment, development, labour and transport.

Jitender Singh Tomar has been given law and justice, tourism, art and culture, as well as home.

Asim Ahmad Khan gets food and supply, environment and forest, and election.

Sandeep Kumar will take charge of the departments of women and child, social welfare, language, and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe. - IANS