Jain gets urban development, Sisodia’s workload reduced

The AAP government on Thursday effected a Cabinet reshuffle, with health and transport minister Satyendra Jain getting additional charge of the urban development department.

The AAP government on Thursday effected a Cabinet reshuffle, with health and transport minister Satyendar Jain getting additional charge of the urban development department.

Health and transport minister Satyendra Jain gets the additional charge of the urban development department (Hindustan Times)

The urban development department so far was with deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds charge of 11 other departments — including education, finance, planning, land & building, revenue, vigilance, services, administrative reforms, information technology, law and justice.

The urban development department looks after the work of municipal corporations and development work in unauthorised colonies across the National Capital.

Earlier, Jain was also given the charge of transport ministry after Gopal Rai stepped down “due to health reasons”.

The cabinet reshuffle comes at a time when engagements of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in poll bound states — Punjab, Goa and Gujarat — are on the rise. Sisodia, being Delhi’s deputy chief minister, also takes care of chief ministerial works in the absence of Kejriwal.

After Thursday’s reshuffle, Jain will hold charge of Delhi’s power, home, PWD, transport, health, industries and urban development.

A government source said that the change was effected for better coordination of work between Sisodia and Jain, who hold important portfolios in the Kejriwal cabinet.