Arvind Kejriwal to keep key portfolios of home, power and finance

NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal will keep the key portfolios of home, power and finance with himself after assuming Delhi Chief Ministership tomorrow while giving education, PWD and urban development to his confidante and deputy Manish Sisiodia, party sources said today.

The departments to be handled by Kejriwal and Sisodia also needs direct dealing with the Centre.

AAP also plans to execute its educational agenda by building new schools and colleges, which is why it will be given to a senior minister like Sisodia.

Satyendra Jain, who had handled the Health and Industry in the earlier AAP rule, will retain the same portfolios, sources said.

In his earlier stint as Health Minister, he was credited with ensuring free medicines in government-run hospitals. Apart from Sisodia, he is the only one who has been retained from the previous government.

Senior party leader and Political Affairs Committee (PAC) member Gopal Rai is tipped be to the next Transport and Labour Minister.

Sandeep Kumar, a lawyer by profession, is likely to handle Women and Child Welfare department and SC and ST Welfare while Jitendra Tomar, another lawyer, will handle the Law department.

Asim Ahmed Khan is likely to be given the charge of Food and Civil Supplies and Minority Affairs ministries.

Rai, Kumar, Tomar and Khan are first-time legislators. Sources also pointed out that with the kind of mandate Kejriwal has got, he will have the scope to remove the ministers if they underperform and give fresh faces a chance in a year.