AAP Cabinet reshuffle: Delhi Services and Vigilance Dept handed over to Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj sacked

The Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) announced a reshuffle in the cabinet on Tuesday with Atishi replacing Service and Vigilance Department minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on the post. This development comes a day after the parliament cleared the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, introducing the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government has said goes against the Supreme Court verdict.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sent the proposal to Lt Governor VK Saxena, allotting Service and Vigilance Department to Atishi. The move comes a day after the Rajya Sabha passed the Delhi services bill — the measure that will give the Centre control over the bureaucracy in the national capital.Atishi was given additional charge of the revenue, planning and the finance departments in June after Saxena approved a proposal to rejig the Cabinet. These three departments were earlier with Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot. Atishi -- the only woman minister in the Delhi Cabinet -- will now hold 14 portfolios, the highest among all ministers in the city government.