Former Apple executive to be Kejriwal's troubleshooter?

Arvind Kejriwal will monitor the work of various departments. Adarsh Shastri might also aid Kejriwal in this task. Somesh Jha reports

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Adarsh Shastri, a former Apple Inc executive, might find a berth in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s office, as a troubleshooter, sources said.

“Even other MLAs (members of legislative Assembly) are going to be assigned some formal role by Kejriwal,” an AAP senior told Business Standard.

There was a buzz that Shastri, the MLA from Dwarka in the city’s southwest, might be made parliamentary secretary to Kejriwal, assisting him in planning and co-ordination of legislative and other official business.

When asked, Shastri said “he wasn’t aware” about this move. He’d joined the AAP after quitting his job as the sales head at Apple India. Shastri is tasked with implementing the party’s promise of free wi-fi connections across public places in the national capital. The party has already laid down the plans and is in touch with information technology and telecom companies for implementation.

Shastri is also looking after the delivery of other manifesto promises, such as making Delhi a “start-up hub”.

In a first, Kejriwal had decided not to keep any ministry or department, delegating all these to his ministers, besides making close aide Manish Sisodia the deputy chief minister.

Kejriwal will be monitoring the work of various departments. Shastri might also aid Kejriwal in this task, as the party is building a framework through which the chief minister can keep an eye on his MLAs and ministers “through modern technology”.

Portfolios

Arvind KejriwaL-CM
Portfolios: None. Will monitor ministries and MLAs

Manish Sisodia (Deputy CM)
Portfolios: Finance and planning, education (higher education and technical education), urban development, revenue, vigilance services, higher education, information technology, administrative reforms

Satyendra Jain
Portfolios: Power, health, industries, PWD, irrigation and flood control

Sandeep Kumar
Portfolios: Women and child welfare, social welfare, language

Asim Ahmed Khan
Portfolios: Food and civil supplies, environment and forests, elections

Jitendra Tomar
Portfolios: Law and justice, home, tourism, art and culture

Gopal Rai
Portfolios: Transport, rural development, labour, general and administration department, employment