The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced on Thursday that Atishi, Delhi’s chief minister-designate, will be sworn in on September 21, along with her full cabinet. Originally, the plan was for only Atishi to take the oath, but the decision was later expanded to include all her ministers.
Following Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation as Delhi’s chief minister on Tuesday, Atishi moved quickly to form her new government. She has managed critical portfolios like finance, education, and revenue, especially during Kejriwal’s imprisonment, and will now become Delhi’s third female chief minister after Congress’s Sheila Dikshit and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj. Though Atishi was long considered the favorite to succeed Kejriwal due to her close connections with both Kejriwal and former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, the political landscape was rife with speculation. Kejriwal officially recommended Atishi for the role during an AAP legislative party meeting, where her nomination received unanimous approval.
Atishi has been a driving force behind major reforms in Delhi’s education system, revolutionizing government schools, improving teaching standards, and spearheading initiatives such as the “Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum” and the “Happiness Curriculum.” Her work as an advisor to then-deputy CM Manish Sisodia cemented her reputation for innovation in education.
As an MLA representing Kalkaji, Atishi is a senior figure in the AAP, having risen to prominence initially as an advisor to the Delhi government’s education department before her electoral victory in 2020. Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal, who was released from prison last Friday, formally announced his resignation on Sunday, stating that he would only return to power if the people provided him a certificate of honesty.
These developments reflect a significant shift in Delhi’s political scene, with the state assembly polls scheduled for February 2025 fast approaching. While the AAP has faced growing accusations of financial mismanagement and deteriorating civic services in the capital, the recent release of prominent figures like Kejriwal and former deputy CM Sisodia has reinvigorated the party’s leadership.
Responsibilities Entrusted
According to AAP leader Gopal Rai, Atishi has been entrusted with two key responsibilities. First, she must continue serving the people of Delhi, despite pressure from the BJP. The second one is if BJP aims to reverse the positive work done by Arvind Kejriwal’s government, she would safeguard AAP’s achievements while exposing BJP’s attempts to undermine them.
Atishi’s Political life
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Atishi, running as an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate, was appointed in charge of East Delhi but lost to BJP’s Gautam Gambhir by a margin of 4.77 lakh votes.
In the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, she contested from the Kalkaji constituency and won, defeating BJP candidate Dharambir Singh by 11,422 votes. Following the resignations of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyender Jain, Atishi was later inducted as a Cabinet Minister in the Delhi government, alongside Saurabh Bharadwaj.
According to news agency PTI, Delhi ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, and Saurabh Bharadwaj were mentioned as potential contenders for the Chief Minister position. Other names in consideration included Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, and Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel. Additionally, Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birla, who is also the Deputy Speaker, and Kondli legislator Kuldeep Kumar were seen as possible candidates. PTI sources also suggested that a surprise candidate could emerge from the minority community, as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has seen its support among this group fluctuate since the 2020 Delhi riots.
