Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and vice-chairman of the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) Ashish Khetan on Wednesday tendered resignation from the post, saying he now wanted to practice law. Sources said Khetan’s resignation has been accepted by the General Administration Department of the Delhi Government.
Meanwhile AAP sources hinted that party leader Atishi Marlena may succeed Khetan as the DDC vice-chairperson. Marlena was removed as adviser to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, following a direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
An AAP functionary, who did not wish to be named, said Marlena, who was assisting Sisodia in “improving the education system” in Delhi could become the next vice-chairman of the DDC. “Marlena's name is the first choice for the post, even as a final call will be taken by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal soon,” he said.
Arunoday Prakash and Amardeep Tiwari, the other advisers who were removed along with Marlena, could also be accommodated in Government-linked bodies, he added.
Khetan, a journalist-turned-politician and a trusted aide of Kejriwal, was appointed the vice-chairman of the DDC, an Government advisory body headed by Kejriwal, three years ago.
“I have resigned as V-C, DDC, with effect from April 16. During the past three years, I had a unique opportunity to shape public policy & bring about reform and change in governance. I am grateful to Arvind Kejriwal, the Hon'ble CM, for giving me this wonderful opportunity,” Khetan tweeted.
“I am joining the legal profession and enrolling with the Bar in Delhi, which actually necessitated my resignation from the DDC. Bar Council Rules prohibit practicing advocates from any kind of private or Government employment,” he further tweeted. Khetan said besides pursuing routine cases, he would take up legal causes in the larger public interest.