Newsmaker | ‘Kejriwal’s eyes and ears’, handler of phone to insulin doses: Bibav Kumar

Bibhav Kumar, who was sacked as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s private secretary by the Delhi government’s Vigilance Department Wednesday, has been a man Friday to the Aam Aadmi Party supremo, their association preceding the birth of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

AAP insiders say he has been the bridge between Kejriwal and others for as long as anyone can remember, and had been one of the two people (apart from Kejriwal’s wife Sunita) allowed by the court to meet Kejriwal daily in jail. After the Vigilance Department order, according to AAP sources, the party is preparing its defence to move the Central Administrative Tribunal in regards to the termination of his services.

Others compare his bond to Kejriwal with the one shared by the CM with his former deputy Manish Sisodia. In fact, Kumar was professionally associated with Sisodia before he was picked by Kejriwal first as his close aide and then as his private secretary.

However, despite being on the frontlines of the AAP for a decade, from its formation to subsequent rise, Kumar has not formally joined the party.

“From Kejriwal ji’s personal phone to the doses of insulin required to keep the CM’s diabetes at bay, Bibhav bhai remained his shadow till he was sent behind bars,” an AAP insider said.

Another leader said: “Bibhav’s primary importance in the scheme of things evolved from handling communication for both Kejriwal ji and Sisodia ji, to being chosen by Arvind ji to look after the expansion of the party, to being given charge of the CM’s household, to looking after both the Chief Minister’s Office at the Secretariat and his camp office at his residence,” an AAP insider said.

Sources in the bureaucracy say that over three successive changes of guard at the Delhi Raj