Questions Raised As No Woman In Kejriwal’s New Cabinet; Alka Lamba Says We’ll Again Have To Beg Men For Our Needs

Congress leader Alka Lamba on Sunday (16 February) tweeted that Delhi''s women department has been assigned to a male instead of a female in the newly constituted Delhi Assembly. She urged women of Delhi to demand permanent jobs in Delhi Transport Corporation and not just a free DTC bus ride.

Lamba tweeted, "#Delhi Government''s #Women''s Ministry is also given to a #Man Minister. My best wishes to the women of Delhi, stay safe, stay healthy. Once again women stand at the doors of men to get their rights. No more free ticket on the bus... ask for confirmed job in DTC."

As Kejriwal 3.0 cabinet swore in for the third term at Delhi's Ramlila maidan, everyone wondered why there was no woman in the new cabinet despite the fact that the party has no dearth of deserving candidates.

Kejriwal decided to repeat the entire cabinet of 2015. As in his previous tenure, this time too no woman was sworn in as minister.

There are at least eight women in the Aam Aadmi Party who won the recently concluded Delhi assembly election. They are: Raj Kumari Dhillon won from Hari Nagar constituency , Atishi won from Kalkaji, Rakhi Birla from Mangolpuri, Bhavna Gaur from Palam, Dhanwati Chandela from Rajouri Garden, Bandana Kumari from Shalimar Bagh, Preeti Tomar from Tri Nagar, Pramila Tokas from R.K. Puram.

Atishi is said to have played a crucial role in revolutionising education and reforming government schools. The AAP praised her incessantly for her efforts. Preeti Tomar, who is a first-time MLA, replaced her husband from Tri Nagar seat after discrepancies in his candidature and won.

Rakhi Birla was able to organise most Dalit votes from Mangolpuri area for the party. She held a ministerial portfolio in AAP''s first term in 2013.

"It was already decided that all former ministers will retain their positions in the cabinet. So, my being in the ministry is out of the question. I hold a position of Deputy Speaker which is equally important. There is no need to have a ministerial portfolio to serve Delhi," Rakhi Birla told IANS.

(With inputs from IANS)