Manish Sisodia, 45
Politician
Former journalist and RTI activist Manish Sisodia, the 45-year-old Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi never imagined that one day he would be in a position to translate his dreams of a corruption-free government. Fellow travellers of his activist days recall how committed he was to the idea of a nation without graft and the welfare of the common people. He detested VIP culture then, as much as he does now.
The transparency campaigner was the founder of NGO ‘Kabir’, which champions the Right to Information.
Later, he partnered with Arvind Kejriwal and founded the Public Cause Research Foundation. Sisodia was also a key member of the ragtag team that laid the foundation for the Jan Lokpal Andolan.
He and Kejriwal went on fast, demanding a special investigation team to probe corruption cases against tainted Union ministers. The government rewarded him with a spell in jail, along with Anna Hazare during the agitation at Jantar Mantar—the heart of protest in Delhi.
Sisodia ventured into politics when the Aam Aadmi Party was formed in 2012. He successfully contested the Delhi Assembly polls; first in 2013 and then in 2015. He was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister the same year.
Colleagues and staff say the softspoken Sisodia commands unconditional respect from party workers and government officials. Even Opposition leaders regard him highly.
His lasting contribution forms the initiatives he has taken to improve education in the capital. Even his foes respect his commitment to the cause. In his first budget, the allocation for education was 23 per cent, a move applauded by the then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung with whom AAP was engaged in a relentless war. Similarly, at a meeting in Kolkata, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley praised Sisodia’s role in introducing bus aggregators in Delhi. Many of his suggestions regarding GST were considered by the Union government while passing the Bill
Bureaucrats describe him as a no-nonsense person. They attend meetings fully prepared, carrying all the relevant files fearing being caught off guard. They are aware that Sisodia would already have done most of the groundwork himself.