Mukesh Ahalawat The new face in Atishi-led Delhi cabinet

     New Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) Mukesh Ahlawat, a first-time MLA from the Sultanpur Majra constituency, is set to make his debut in the Delhi cabinet, led by Chief Minister-designate Atishi.
     The 48-year-old Dalit leader has been inducted to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Social Welfare Minister Raaj Kumar Anand.
     Anand resigned from the Kejriwal government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in April, subsequently joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
     Ahlawat began his political journey with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), contesting elections in 2008 and 2013.
     He is also the co-incharge of AAP's Rajasthan unit and has been the Chairman of the District Development Committee since 19 March 2017.
     In the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, Ahlawat led AAP to victory in the Sultanpur Majra constituency by defeating BJP's Ram Chander Chawriya with a margin of 48,042 votes. By profession, he identifies himself as a businessman.
     In 2020, Ahlawat founded a local NGO focused on education, while also actively volunteering in anti-corruption efforts.
     "His key interests include social justice, education reform, and community development, driving his work both in and outside of politics," AAP said in a statement.    
     Born on November 9, 1975, Ahlawat completed his education up to class 12 at Ravindra Public School, CBSE, in 1994.
     Before joining AAP, he contested the 2013 elections from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) but lost to Congress' Jai Kishan. Sultanpur Majra, a suburban assembly seat, falls under the North West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency.
     Atishi and her new cabinet are set to take the oath of office on September 21. However, their tenure will be brief, as Delhi Assembly elections are due in February next year.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)