AAP MLA Mukesh Ahlawat will be a new addition to the Delhi Cabinet led by Atishi, who is set to be sworn in as chief minister on September 21. The party announced that four ministers will be retained in the Cabinet. Chief Minister-designate Atishi and her new team will take the oath of office on the same day. 

Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, and Imran Hussain, who were part of outgoing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Council of Ministers, will also be included in the new Cabinet, according to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). 

Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj were brought into the Kejriwal Cabinet after the resignations of AAP national convenor's close aides Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in February last year. Earlier this week, Mr. Kejriwal resigned as Delhi Chief Minister, after which Atishi, chosen by AAP as his successor, claimed the opportunity to form a new government. 

Atishi previously held 13 major portfolios in Kejriwal's Cabinet, including finance, revenue, PWD, and education. Her extensive experience managing these portfolios was a key factor in her selection to succeed Mr. Kejriwal. 

Mr. Rai oversees the departments of environment, development, and general administration, while Mr. Bharadwaj manages health, tourism, and urban development, among others. 

Mr. Gahlot is responsible for transport, home affairs, and women and child development, while Mr. Hussain serves as the minister for food and supplies. 

Mr. Ahlawat, the MLA from Delhi's Sultanpur Majra, has been appointed to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of social welfare minister Raaj Kumar Anand, who stepped down from the Kejriwal government and left AAP in April. Mr. Kejriwal did not hold any portfolio during his tenure. 

Mr. Ahlawat a first-time MLA from Sultanpur Majra won the seat in 2020 by a margin of over 48,000 votes. 

The new Cabinet will need to expedite and approve pending policies and welfare schemes, including the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0, and doorstep delivery of services, among others. The Kejriwal government had several conflicts with the Delhi lieutenant governor regarding governance and the implementation of various schemes. 

The Council of Ministers in the Delhi government consists of seven members, including the chief minister. The tenure of both the Chief Minister and the new entrant will be short, as Delhi assembly elections are scheduled for February next year. The name of the seventh member is yet to be announced. 

The oath ceremony for the new chief minister is expected to take place at the Raj Niwas and is likely to be a "low-key affair" considering the circumstances surrounding Mr. Kejriwal's resignation. Atishi has described Mr. Kejriwal's resignation as an extremely sad moment. 

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