Manish Sisodia, Jain resign; Kejriwal may induct two new ministers

Senior ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday, paving the way for two new inductions in chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's Cabinet.

As the law enforcement agencies closed in on Sisodia and the Supreme Court refused to hear the bail plea on Tuesday, Sisodia and Jain submitted their resignations to the chief minister. Kejriwal went into a huddle with senior leaders on Tuesday evening to decide the future course of action. According to sources, the party decided to induct two new faces in the Cabinet after a detailed discussion on whether there could be a possibility of redistribution of 18 portfolios held by Sisodia (after Jain's arrest last year, Sisodia was handling his portfolios also). Two options were discussed as the senior leaders realised that Sisodia could face a long incarceration like Jain. One, both Sisodia and Jain continue as ministers and their portfolios redistributed between ministers Kailash Gahlot and Raaj Kumar Anand. Two, induct two new ministers. Sources said the leadership felt induction of two ministers would be a more complete solution.

Speaking to reporters, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "It is unfortunate that our two ministers who were working hard for the people of Delhi have resigned due to the BJP government's conspiracies. Delhi has a small Cabinet with the chief minister and six ministers. The two senior ministers were handling the most important portfolios. Two new ministers will be inducted soon so that the work is not affected in their absence." The party threw its weight behind the two AAP leaders. "The entire Aam Aadmi Party - every worker, every MLA - is standing behind the two ministers," Bharadwaj said.


AAP spokesperson and MLA Dilip Pandey held a separate press conference to state the unequivocal support of the party. Terming Sisodia as "the world's best education minister", Pandey said, "The whole country was looking towards these two ministers to deliver the same promise in other states. This was the main fear of BJP which made it target the two senior ministers. But, the party stands behind them. The work will not stop."

Sisodia Has Other Remedies: SC

Earlier in the day, the apex court refused to entertain Sisodia's plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Delhi excise policy case.

Refusing to entertain the plea, a division bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and P S Narasimha observed that the plea cannot be entertained merely because the incident has taken place in Delhi. The bench remarked that Sisodia has "efficacious alternative (legal) remedies" to avail.

"Just because an incident happens in Delhi does not mean this case will come to the SC," Justice Narasimha verbally remarked.

Refusing to entertain the plea under Article 32 of the Constitution, the CJI orally observed that if entertained the top court will be asked to interfere in every such case which has happened in Delhi.