Kejriwal has no portfolio, AAP to focus on power, water

The AAP government said after taking office Saturday that it will focus on curbing corruption, controlling price rise and providing uninterrupted power and water supply.

The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a first of its kind in the country, won't hold any portfolio but oversee all the ministers.

In the process, the largest number of departments will be with Sisodia, a long-time confidant of Kejriwal, including those of finance and power which were to have been held by the chief minister.

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

Sisodia will now hold finance and planning, services, education, IT, technical education, administrative reforms, urban development, revenue, land and building, and vigilance besides departments not with any minister.

"Kejriwal will not hold any portfolio," Sisodia said, four days after the Aam Aadmi Party won a sweeping victory in the Delhi assembly election, bagging an incredible 67 of the 70 seats. The BJP got three.

"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 Ahmed 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.