Delhi Liquor Scam: Delhi Dy. CM Manish Sisodia's arrest and the game of politics

Manish Sisodia's arrest in the Delhi Liquor Scam case has shocked the Aam Aadmi Party Cadre and the people of Delhi. Manish Sisodia has been a famous Politician across all parties and the power corridors. Mr. Sisodia enjoys high popularity and has been the No. 2 person in Delhi and Punjab's ruling AAP party. Also, In Delhi Government, he is the Dy—Chief Minister of the Delhi and Education Minister.

After the arrest, the immediate absence of Manish Sisodia will broadly impact the functioning of the Delhi Government and the - National - Aam Aadmi Party. The AAP was already going through a crisis after the arrest of Satyendar Jain on the allegations of a money laundering case in May last year. Mr. Sisodia handled many of the departments headed by his colleague Satyendra Jain. Mr. Sisodia runs a total of 18 departments of the Delhi Govt. But, now the AAP, Delhi's CM Arvind Kejriwal, and the Delhi Government are under extreme strain after the sudden arrest of Manish Sisodia.

He was a trusted lieutenant of the AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal. Before AAP formation, the two worked together in NGO Parivartan, raising issues such as the availability of ration and the Right to Information (RTE). After Satyendra Jain's arrest last year, Mr. Sisodia has handled Mr. Jain's departments, such as the Health, Public Works Department, and the Department of Home.

The arrest also comes at a crucial time as just weeks are left for Delhi Government's Budget Session in Assembly, expected to be held in the first half of March, which Manish Sisodia has presented ever since the AAP formed the government.

It's the Education Department, in particular, that Sisodia has become known in Delhi and across the country. Clips of his interactions with the Delhi Govt. school's students in which they express gratitude to him have been doing the rounds on the internet after his arrest. CM Kejriwal and his party have repeatedly called him "India's best education minister" and allege the Centre's ruling BJP-led Modi Government for the fake case and unlawful arrest of Mr. Sisodia. The AAP's 'Delhi model' is, by and large, Sisodia's education model on which AAP fought the election in Delhi and Punjab and won. AAP is protesting nationwide and calling the arrest by BJP-governed agencies a politically motivated move. BJP refutes such allegations.