Saurabh Bhardwaj was relieved of his duties as minister of services and vigilance, and his portfolios were transferred to Atishi

Saurabh Bhardwaj, a minister in charge of Services and Vigilance for the Delhi government, was removed from his position on Tuesday as part of a significant cabinet change by the Aam Aadmi Party. Atishi, a minister for Delhi PWD, received the responsibility.

The action was taken in response to Union home minister Amit Shah repeatedly mentioning in a Parliamentary discussion how papers were requested at midnight and personnel were instructed not to report to the Special Secretary (Vigilance). Additionally, he said that the Services Secretary was moved right away after the Supreme Court ruling on May 11.

According to Shah, the AAP sent certain personnel to the vigilance division since it possessed records pertaining to the Union Territory liquor fraud.

He said that the AAP promptly shifted staff to the vigilance department, which is looking into a number of scandals, including the refurbishment of the Chief Minister’s house, once the Delhi government was given control of services by the Supreme Court.

Why were the vigilance department and not the transport department, the JAL board, the road and construction department, or the social welfare department the sole targets? This is so because the vigilance agency possesses the records of the liquor fraud and instances involving the excise policy, according to Amit Shah.

The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was approved in the Rajya Sabha late on Monday, less than twenty-four hours before the reshuffle. The divisive Bill, which gives the Delhi Lieutenant Governor extensive authority and limits the chief minister’s authority, had previously been approved by the Lok Sabha.

After Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain resigned in March, Atishi and Bharadwaj were both appointed to the cabinet. The Delhi Lieutenant Governor has already received the paperwork containing the revised cabinet portfolios for approval.

The ministries of Health, Industries, Urban Development, Irrigation and Flood Control, and Water will remain under the control of AAP minister Saurabh Bhardwaj.

The only female member of the seven-person Delhi Cabinet, Atishi, has the most responsibilities under her belt. She was moved down in the cabinet one spot from Kejriwal in the most recent shuffle. Atishi also oversees important agencies including Public Works, Education, and Power.

Atishi, 42, was raised in Delhi and attended Springdales School before enrolling at St. Stephen’s College to study history, according to sources. She then received a Chevening scholarship at Oxford University where she completed her master’s degree in history before enrolling as a Rhodes scholar at Magdalen College.

Atishi received added responsibilities for finance, planning, and revenue in the Delhi government at the most recent cabinet shift. She previously held the portfolios for public relations, higher education, training and technical education, tourism, and the departments of power, education, art, culture, and language.