Action-packed Day 1 in office for Arvind Kejriwal: 7 key points

Having wrested power in capital by promising sweeping change in policy matters and functioning of bureaucracy, Arvind Kejriwal began his stint as Delhi Chief Minister on flourishing note on Saturday.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Having wrested power in the capital by promising sweeping change in policy matters and functioning of bureaucracy, Arvind Kejriwal began his stint as Delhi Chief Minister on a flourishing note on Saturday.
Within hours of assuming office in the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party leader shunted nine senior bureaucrats from their departments and laid down actionable deadlines for delivering on key promises made by him and his party.

Seven key decisions and announcements he made on his first day in the office included —

  • Delhi Jal Board CEO Debashree Mukherjee transferred to Delhi Transport Corporation.
  • Power Secretary RK Verma shifted to Education department.
  • Delhi Finance Secretary M M Kutty transferred to Social Welfare Department.
  • He met with Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi and discussed ways of improving the law and order situation, especially one of the key factors of concern in the national capital — women`s security.
  • Kejriwal promised `news` by Monday on his promise of providing 700 litres of water daily to all households in the city.
  • He said he was in consultation with senior officers and by Tuesday or Wednesday, he would be able to say something on his promise of slashing electricity tarriff.
  • The use of red beacons on official cars in Delhi was banned. No PSO and escort vehicle to be provided to officials. Security to be allowed based on threat perception and Delhi cabinet will decide on the recipient.
  • Kejriwal`s first day in the Delhi Secretariat was spent in hectic brainstorming sessions with top government officials, a cabinet meeting on the new government`s strategy and hide-and-seek with journalists.

    After being sworn in as the chief minister, Kejriwal reached Delhi Secretariat at around 2 pm in his blue WagonR car only to find scores of eager journalists wanting to ask questions, mainly: How will he bring changes overnight? 

    He was besieged by a horde of journalists as he approached his office on the third floor of the sprawling office located in ITO in central Delhi. But he managed to make his way to his office room. 

    After some moments, the chief minister emerged from the room and held a brief press briefing in which he announced the portfolios of his six cabinet ministers and the agenda of the cabinet meeting that he held at 2.30 pm. 

    After the cabinet meeting, in which the heads of the departments and cabinet ministers were present, he held back-to-back meetings with Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi, officials of the power department, the Delhi Jal Board and other departments.

    Interestingly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Satya Prakash Rana met Kejriwal to complain that he has promised free water to households having piped water and what has he planned for those who don`t have such access to water supply.

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