Arvind Kejriwal assigns portfolios, retains power and finance

NEW DELHI: Soon after assuming charge as Delhi Chief Misister, Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced the portfolios of the six members of his Cabinet.

Addressing reporters in a press conference, Kejriwal said he will be taking charge of Home, Power, Finance, Vigilance, Services and all other departments not yet allocated.

Manish Sisodia will take over Education, Higher Education, PWD, Urban Development, Local Bodies, Land & Building and Revenue departments. Somnath Bharti will hold Tourism, Law, Administrative Reforms, Art & Culture departments. Saurabh Bhardwaj will take charge of Food & Supply, Environment, Transport, Election. Rakhi Birla will hold Women & Child, Social Welfare, Women's Safety, Languages. Girish Soni will take charge of Development, Employment, Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes.

Making history in the national capital, Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday took oath as the Delhi Chief Minister. Kejriwal is the youngest Chief Minister of the national capital.

45-year-old Kejriwal, a former revenue service official, who broke from Anna Hazare's campaign for Lokpal and scored a stunning debut in electoral politics winning 28 of the 70 seats, took the oath of office and secrecy at a public ceremony in the historic Ramlila Maidan, the fast venue of the anti-graft campaigners more than two years ago.

In a warning to his minsters and partymen, he said they should not get arrogant with power. "We were born to remove the arrogance of big parties. We should be wary that no other party has to take birth to dismantle us".

On the confidence motion on the floor of Delhi Assembly next week, he said his party was not bothered about its fate as "we are not here to grab power".

In his 20-minute speech, Kejriwal called the day very historic and formation of his government a "victory of the aam aadmi (common man)".