Kejriwal gets hands-on, begins with Jain’s depts

CONSIDERED NUMBER THREE IN THE DELHI GOVT, SATYENDAR JAIN HOLDS KEY PORTFOLIOS SUCH AS PWD, HEALTH, POWER AND HOME

As Arvind Kejriwal takes charge of governance in the city, most of the departments the chief minister has reviewed till now are headed by his cabinet colleague Satyendar Jain who is under the ‘scanner’ for controversies involving him.

Soon after a review of loss in the municipal elections, the chief minister has conducted a series of administrative reviews.

Some of the major ones being preparedness over dengue and chikungunya outbreak, review of availability of medicines in Delhi government hospitals, surprise inspection of Sanjay Gandhi hospital and stock taking of PWD roads ahead of monsoon to check waterlogging.

All of these departments are headed by health minister Satyendar Jain, who is considered number three in the Delhi government after Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia since he holds several key portfolios such as health, power, PWD, home and urban development among others.

Another key department, transport was recently taken away from the minister and allotted to newly inducted member in the cabinet, Kailash Gahlot.

One of the most ‘vocal’ and ‘seen’ members of the Kejriwal cabinet, of late, Jain has been relatively lying low as he has been under the scanner following corruption allegations by former colleague and sacked water minister, Kapil Mishra.

The Shakur Basti legislator is also facing probe from the income tax department and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in different cases registered against him.

“Be it the issues related to health department, or the PWD, the chief minister has been involved directly in the decision making. He also supervised the preparation of the action plan to check waterlogging on PWD roads,” a senior official said.

Health minister Satyendar Jain and the Delhi government spokesperson were unavailable for comment.