The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has unveiled its new Delhi cabinet, with Mukesh Ahlawat joining as a fresh face. The announcement comes as Atishi prepares to take office as the chief minister of Delhi on September 21.
The Delhi government will retain Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Imran Hussain in their ministerial roles. These experienced leaders will continue to manage critical portfolios within the cabinet.
Mukesh Ahlawat, representing the Sultanpur Majra assembly constituency, will assume a new cabinet position. Ahlawat won his seat with a significant margin of 48,042 votes in the 2020 assembly elections, succeeding former minister Sandeep Kumar.
Atishi, who is set to become Delhi’s third female chief minister, will oversee 14 key portfolios including finance, education, and revenue. Her appointment follows the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal, who stepped down as Delhi’s chief minister on Tuesday. Atishi’s appointment marks a notable transition as she steps into leadership amidst the party’s recent challenges.
Chief Minister-designate Atishi’s ascent comes after a turbulent period for the AAP, marked by the arrest of key leaders including Kejriwal and former deputy Manish Sisodia over alleged irregularities related to the now-scrapped 2021-2022 excise policy.
Kejriwal, who was released from jail on Friday by the Supreme Court, announced his resignation on Sunday, stating he would step down within 48 hours. He also expressed his willingness to return to the position only if he receives a certificate of honesty from voters. His proposal for Atishi’s appointment received unanimous support from fellow MLAs during a meeting at his residence.
Atishi, 43, who started as a first-time lawmaker in 2020, has navigated a significant rise within the AAP, taking on crucial roles during a period of political upheaval.