Kejriwal prepares for Delhi reins
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India

New Delhi, February 12 2015 : 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.

CM designate Kejriwal and Prime Minister Modi

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 DM Spolia to start work on making a roadmap to implement AAP's 70 promises.

In his meeting with Modi, Kejriwal invited the Prime Minister to his oath-taking ceremony.

However, Modi expressed his inability to attend it saying he would be out of the city on that day.

"Arvind told the Prime Minister that both the Centre and the State Government enjoy strong majority, therefore, it is a golden opportunity for both to work together to make Delhi a better city," Sisodia told reporters after the meeting.

Yesterday, Kejriwal, in separate meetings with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu pitched for full Statehood for Delhi and regularisation of unauthorised colonies.

Sources in the Government said Chief Secretary Spolia has directed all the departments to prepare separate roadmaps to implement AAP's 70-point manifesto.

"The departments have started work on it following instructions from Chief Secretary," a senior official said.

The AAP's 70-point manifesto includes 50 per cent cut in power tariff, free Wi-Fi across the city, installation of 10- 15 lakh CCTVs, building of two lakh public toilets across Delhi, setting up of 20 new colleges and regulating fees in private schools.

It also promised addition of 30,000 more beds in Delhi hospitals and creation of eight lakh new jobs in the next five years.

Releasing the manifesto last month, Kejriwal had announced that an AAP Government will slash electricity tariff by 50 per cent and carry out a thorough audit of the private power distribution companies based on which rates will be revised.

Meanwhile, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has made elaborate arrangements for the oath-taking ceremony.