Arvind Kejriwal prepares to take over reins of Delhi

NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet will take oath on Saturday at the historic Ramlila Maidan - the protest venue of the anti-graft campaigners over three years ago - even as various departments started work on a roadmap to implement AAP's 70-point election manifesto.

As he prepares to take over the reins of Delhi, Kejriwal, accompanied by senior leader Manish Sisodia, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his help in addressing various problems facing the city.

The Chief Minister-designate also urged Modi to grant full statehood to Delhi to overcome the perennial problem of multiplicity of authorities.

Earlier, Kejriwal, in a meeting with senior party leaders, finalised the list of the cabinet ministers which was later sent to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.

Sources said Sisodia would be made Deputy Chief Minister and given major responsibilities to help Kejriwal focus on expanding the party at the national level.

Barring Sisodia, a close confidant of Kejriwal, and Satyendra Jain, the rest four- Rakhi Birla, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Somnath Bharti, Girish Soni -- who were in AAP's earlier cabinet -- are unlikely to make it to the cabinet this time.

The sources said the party has decided to induct first- time legislators Jitendra Tomar, Kapil Mishra, Sandeep Kumar and Asim Ahmed Khan in the cabinet.

Shahdara MLA Ramniwas Goel could be the Speaker of the Assembly while Bandana Kumari, from Shalimar Bag constituency, will be Deputy Speaker.

Meanwhile, officials in Delhi government said all the departments concerned are making specific presentations to be made before Kejriwal after he assumes charge as Delhi Chief Minister.

Yesterday, Kejriwal had directed Chief Secretary D M Spolia to start work on making a roadmap to implement AAP's 70 promises.