AAP’s Cabinet dilemma: Bring in fresh faces or keep Team Kejriwal

All eyes are now on chief minister designate Atishi‘s new Cabinet, which is likely to be utilised as an opportunity to address crucial segments including women, Scheduled Castes, Purvanchalis and minorities.

Atishi is likely to take oath of office on September 21 along with a new Cabinet of six members. According to sources, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has held initial discussions with senior colleagues Manish Sisodia, Sandeep Pathak and Sanjay Singh on Cabinet formation.

A senior AAP leader, who did not wish to be identified, told ET, “It is obvious that when a new chief minister takes over, a new team is also put in place. This is being done.” Kejriwal submitted his resignation to lieutenant-governor VK Saxena on Tuesday evening, along with the Cabinet. The single-line resignation read, “I, along with my Council of Ministers, hereby tender our resignation.” L-G office sources said, “L-G has moved the letters of resignation to the President and home ministry, proposing September 21 as the date for swearing-in.” No date for swearing-in was proposed by either Kejriwal or Atishi.

The biggest decision before Kejriwal is whether to retain anyone from his ministry or provide a brand new team to Atishi. While Kejriwal may be tempted to go for the latter, letting go of seasoned ministers like Gopal Rai and trusted youth leader Saurabh Bharadwaj could send the wrong signals. Sources said Rai, who hails from the crucial Purvanchali community, may be retained. Bharadwaj, who had played a crucial administrative role when both Kejriwal and Sisodia were in jail, may find a place in the new ministry.

AAP is likely to give representation to at least one person hailing from the minority community and a Scheduled Caste. Imran Hussain may also find a place in the Cabinet. The leader quoted above said, “There were two people from the SC community who were in the Cabinet and have recently quit and joined the Congress and BJP. This vacancy will be filled.”

According to sources, Kondli reserved seat MLA Kuldeep Kumar, who had recently fought the Lok Sabha elections from East Delhi, may be accommodated in the Cabinet. The party seniors are seriously considering if another woman MLA should be accommodated in the Cabinet. The names of Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birla and Shalimar Bagh MLA Bandana Kumari are being considered.

The Cabinet formation would be a way for AAP to show how it wants to court the crucial constituencies ahead of the Delhi assembly elections slated for February 2025. Going by the campaign for the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections and 2020 municipal polls, it is evident that there is an emphasis on wooing the trading community as well. How this numerically-strong votebank may find representation in the Cabinet is also being watched out for.

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