Manish Sisodia is now ‘empowered’ to clear all files

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is being empowered to clear all files, earlier routed through the office of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The city government’s decision to empower Mr Sisodia with absolute powers of the Chief Minister’s Office is being interpreted in the political circles as an attempt by the AAP to ensure its supremo gets enough time to campaign aggressively in next year’s Delhi civic elections and the Assembly polls in Punjab, Goa and Gujarat.

The government is unlikely to make any official announcement in this regard, but Mr Sisodia would soon be enjoying full authority to take independent decisions on behalf of Mr Kejriwal.

A highly-placed source in the CM’s Office said all the files which used to be routed through Mr Kejriwal’s office are now sent for clearance to Mr Sisodia’s office. These files pertain to policies to curb corruption, time-bound delivery of services by the government agencies, transparency in awarding major projects to private entities and action-bound plans for implementing the party’s election manifesto.

Since Mr Sisodia is already handling portfolios of education, urban development, information technology, finance, planning, revenue, law, vigilance, land and building departments, there are indications that he may soon be divested of some departments so that he can focus on pressing matters, so far being directly handled by Mr Kejriwal’s office.

A source privy to discussions related to latest developments in the city government said Mr Sisodia had suggested that urban development and IT departments should be given to some other Cabinet minister. As urban development minister, Mr Sisodia is also responsible for development work in unauthorised colonies, which form a core votebank of the Aam Aadmi Party. The development work in the unauthorised colonies has been entrusted to the DSIDC, which is under the control of industries minister Satyendar Jain. In such a scenario, both UD and IT departments are likely to go to Mr Jain, who is already holding charge of transport, PWD, health, home and power. Last month, Mr Jain was given additional charge of transport after labour minister Gopal Rai said he was unwell and suggested his department be given to some other minister.