Delhi: AAP’s Saurabh Bhardwaj assumes charge of Health, Urban Development, and six other departments

New Delhi [India], September 22 (ANI): AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj took charge after taking oath as a minister in the Delhi government.

Bhardwaj took oath as minister in the cabinet of the Atishi-led Delhi government, Bhadwaj assumed charge in the office on Saturday.

Saurabh Bharadwaj has been given the responsibility of eight departments including with Health, Urban Development, and Social Welfare.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, after administering the oath of the CM Atishi and the new Delhi government cabinet, extended his best wishes to the team.

In a post on X, LG Vinai Kumar Saxena wrote, “Administered Oath of Office & Secrecy to the new CM, GNCTD, Ms Atishi & her colleagues in the Council of Ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain and Mukesh Ahlawat. My best wishes to them. May they work for the betterment of Delhi & it’s people.”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi was sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister along with five other party leaders on Saturday.

Hours after taking oath as the Chief Minister, Atishi allocated portfolios to the council of ministers and retained all the 13 departments that she held earlier as minister. Among her ministerial team, Saurabh Bhardwaj has eight portfolios, Gopal Rai three, Kailash Gahlot five and Imran Hussain two. Mukesh Ahlawat is the new face in the Council of Ministers.

Soon after the swearing-in ceremony, several AAP ministers highlighted the policies implemented by the Kejriwal-led government, while BJP leaders called it a “dummy government”.

Imran Hussain expressed his gratitude to AAP leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and expressed confidence that the party will come to power in the Delhi assembly polls expected in a few months.

“We will form the government again, in 4-5 months. People will make Arvind Kejriwal Chief Minister again. We are working under the guidance of Arvind Kejriwal ji. Work in Delhi is happening under his care, whether it is the education model of Delhi, or 200 units of free electricity, water being free, or even free rides for women in buses. So that work will continue”

AAP leader Kailash Gahlot emphasised that Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance will continue.

“Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance as party’s national convenor will continue. Our only goal is to continue to work for the people of Delhi and to bring back Arvind Kejriwal. We will try to complete all the major works,” he said.

BJP leader Vijender Gupta, said the new AAP government will be run through “remote control”.

“It is a dummy government and a dummy chief minister. It will be a remote-control run government. This is just a formality. How could Arvind Kejriwal remain CM? When he talked about running the government from jail, that was also just for show…People want to take stock of the last eight months and in the next three months too the Delhi government will be run with a remote,” he alleged.

Atishi was elected leader of AAP legislative party after Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Delhi Chief Minister days after he was released on bail in the Delhi excise policy case.