AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj has officially assumed his role as a minister in the Delhi government after taking his oath on Saturday. Bharadwaj will oversee eight departments, including Health, Urban Development, and Social Welfare, as part of the cabinet led by new Chief Minister Atishi.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena administered the oath and extended his best wishes to the new team. In a post on X, he wrote, “Administered Oath of Office & Secrecy to the new CM, Ms. Atishi, and her colleagues in the Council of Ministers, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain, and Mukesh Ahlawat. My best wishes to them; may they work for the betterment of Delhi and its people.”
Atishi was sworn in as Delhi’s Chief Minister alongside five other AAP leaders, with all 13 departments she previously held retained in her portfolio. Saurabh Bharadwaj’s responsibilities include eight portfolios, while Gopal Rai has three, Kailash Gahlot five, and Imran Hussain two. Mukesh Ahlawat is the newest member of the Council of Ministers.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, several AAP ministers highlighted the accomplishments of the previous Kejriwal-led government, while BJP leaders criticized it as a “dummy government.” Imran Hussain expressed gratitude to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, stating, “We will form the government again in 4-5 months. People will make Arvind Kejriwal Chief Minister once more. Work in Delhi is continuing under his guidance.”
Kailash Gahlot emphasized that Kejriwal’s leadership would remain influential, saying, “Our only goal is to work for the people of Delhi and bring back Arvind Kejriwal.”
In contrast, BJP leader Vijender Gupta criticized the new AAP administration, claiming it would be controlled from behind the scenes. “This is a dummy government and a dummy chief minister. How could Arvind Kejriwal remain CM? His statements about running the government from jail were mere theatrics,” he alleged.
Atishi was elected as the leader of the AAP legislative party after Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister shortly after being released on bail in the Delhi excise policy case.
