Guwahati: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Cabinet Colleague Satyendar Jain resigned due to legal issues. Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last year in connection with a money laundering case, while Sisodia is currently being held by the CBI for five days in connection with the excise policy issue. The AAP announced preparations to appeal to the high court after Sisodia’s Supreme Court bail request was rejected.
Prior to his arrest, Sisodia was in charge of 18 of the capital’s 33 departments, whilst Jain was in charge of the health portfolio. There are now four ministers in the Delhi government, and two more are anticipated to be appointed.
The announcement of the resignations coincides with the Delhi government’s scheduled budget presentation, and Sisodia’s arrest has clouded the event. On who would be chosen to fill the open positions, the AAP has not yet made any comments.
The AAP has experienced controversy about its ministers before. Former Law Minister Jitender Tomar resigned after being arrested on suspicion of having a false degree in 2015. Sandeep Kumar, a former minister of social welfare, was also forced to retire in 2017 after a sex tape with him on it was made public.
Sisodia and Jain’s resignations are expected to have an effect on how the Delhi administration operates, which has already been under fire for how it handled the Covid-19 crisis. The AAP will have to put in a lot of effort to win back the public’s confidence in its administration now that two crucial ministers are no longer involved.