Atishi formally takes the post of Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday, replacing Arvind Kejriwal. The latter had resigned from the post earlier in the week, relinquishing the same on Tuesday.
Important Cabinet Members Retain Their Positions in New Government
Again, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, and Kailash Gahlot were sworn in as ministers; they retained the same portfolios. Imran Hussain has also continued to be a minister, while one of the new faces in the cabinet is Mukesh Ahlawat, MLA from Sultanpur Majra.
Atishi Short Tenure as CM Before Elections
Atishi, 43, will head a caretaker ministry as Delhi assembly elections are to be held in February. She was on Tuesday elected leader of the legislature party of the AAP in advance of Kejriwal's resignation to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
VIDEO | AAP leader Atishi (@AtishiAAP) takes oath as Delhi CM at LG House. pic.twitter.com/Y8Ty8gLquO— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 21, 2024
Role of Atishi in Kejriwal's Absence
Atishi was handling sensitive portfolios like finance, education, and revenue in Kejriwal's ministry. Atishi was holding them when Kejriwal was going through legal hassles.
Kejriwal Resigns After Being Given Bail in Corruption Case
Kejriwal resigned days after he was given bail by the Supreme Court in a case related to corruption in the Delhi excise policy, filed by the CBI.
Kejriwal Promises to Return if People Want Him
Kejriwal said that he would return as CM only if the public supported him in the elections. I will not sit on the CM chair until I get the public's verdict,
Kejriwal said. Kejriwal also hinted at advancing elections and requested them to be held in November along with Maharashtra elections.
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Atishi to Take Over as Delhi's Youngest Chief Minister
Atishi, a leader of the AAP, is going to take oath today as Delhi's youngest Chief Minister instead of Arvind Kejriwal. The ceremony will be a low-key one and will take place at the Raj Bhavan at 4:30 pm.
AAP Council of Ministers
Five AAP members will figure in Atishi's cabinet in the Delhi unit. Of these, three well-known party faces are set to remain ministers: Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Imran Hussain. Fresh blood in the council is likely to come from Mukesh Ahlawat, a first-time MLA elected from Sultanpur Majra. Known as AAP's Dalit leader, his induction will give the party an edge, especially during elections.
Kejriwal Resigns, Atishi Elected Unopposed
Atishi was promoted to Chief Minister after Arvind Kejriwal resigned suddenly from the post. The resignation came ahead of an AAP legislature meeting where Atishi was unanimously elected as her replacement. This is after Kejriwal was released on bail recently by the Supreme Court in the controversial Delhi liquor policy case. He said he would return as chief minister only if the public gave him a "certificate of honesty" by electing him in the next Assembly elections slated for February next year.
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From Spokesperson to Chief Minister: Atishi's Extraordinary Journey
Atishi, an Oxford-educated Rhodes scholar, has very rapidly risen through the ranks in Delhi politics. One day she was working as an adviser to then Education Minister, Manish Sisodia, in 2015 for which she drew much attention because of the tremendous reforms she brought into government schools. Just five years later, by 2020 she had become MLA, and now in 2024, the chief leadership person in the capital. Her tenure as Chief Minister will be very brief but very crucial responsibilities are in store for her.
Challenges and Elections Ahead
The agenda of Atishi as Chief Minister would be very busy for AAP in the elections. Her government would need to drive on several delayed welfare schemes like Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0, and doorstep delivery of services, among others. It is yet to be seen if her cabinet will face any departures, especially in important portfolios like finance, power, and education, which Atishi had led in the previous government.
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The third female chief minister
Atishi in an historical step, emerges as Delhi's third female chief minister in the capital city and as political figures include Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit. However, the term could be a brief one as she gets back to office, yet her role shall turn out to be very decisive for her as well as AAP in the election and governance that is waiting ahead for the party at large.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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