New Delhi, May 19
Hours after the President gave nod to the appointment of Kailash Gahlot and Rajender Pal Gautam as ministers in the AAP government, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal effected major changes in the portfolio allocating key responsibilities to his new colleagues.
While Gahlot was named the city's new Transport Minister, replacing Satyendar Jain, Gautam has been given the Water Ministry, held by Kapil Mishra before he was sacked on May 6.
The portfolios were allocated to Gahlot and Gautam after Lt Governor Anil Baijal administrated them the oath of office and secrecy at the L-G secretariat.
Gahlot, the Najafgarh MLA, faces an uphill task as the public transport system in the city is not particularly in a good shape. Since its formation, the AAP government has not been able to add a single new bus to the fleet of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).
Gahlot has also been given the charge of Law and Justice, Information Technology and Administrative Reforms which were until now with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Gautam will be the new Social Welfare and SC/ST Minister also. Besides, he has also been given all portfolios held by Mishra.—PTI