New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal has announced that he will resign as Delhi Chief Minister within 24 hours, stating he will only return to office after the public has delivered its verdict on the corruption allegations against him. This raises the pressing question of who within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will take on the role of Chief Minister. According to a party official, AAP leader Manish Sisodia is set to meet with Mr. Kejriwal today, with discussions on the potential successor expected to take place.
Delhi’s assembly elections are scheduled for February next year, though Mr. Kejriwal has urged for the polls to be held in November alongside the Maharashtra elections. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has also stated that he will only return to the top office after a re-election, signaling that AAP’s top leadership is not in the running for the Chief Minister’s post.
Though the new Chief Minister will serve for only a few months, AAP is likely to choose a prominent leader who can effectively communicate the party’s stance on critical issues and enjoys broad support within the party ranks.
Atishi: Delhi Minister Atishi, who oversees key portfolios like education and PWD, is a prominent contender for the top post. An Oxford University alumnus and Rhodes scholar, Atishi has played a significant role in AAP’s efforts to transform Delhi’s education system. Representing the Kalkaji constituency, the 43-year-old took on a ministerial role after Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with a corruption case related to Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy. During the time when both Kejriwal and Sisodia were in jail, Atishi became the voice of the party, articulating its stance. On August 15, Kejriwal selected her to hoist the national flag at the Delhi government’s Independence Day event, although Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena intervened and blocked the plan. This incident highlighted the strong trust AAP’s leadership places in Atishi.
Saurabh Bharadwaj: A three-time MLA from Greater Kailash, Saurabh Bharadwaj holds key portfolios such as vigilance and health in the Arvind Kejriwal government. He was appointed as a minister following Manish Sisodia’s arrest in the liquor policy case. With a background in software engineering, Bharadwaj previously served as a minister during Kejriwal’s 49-day government. As a national spokesperson for AAP, he has been the party’s voice, especially when its top leaders were in jail after being arrested by central agencies in connection with corruption cases.
Raghav Chadha: A prominent member of AAP’s national executive and political affairs committee, Raghav Chadha serves as a Rajya Sabha MP and is one of the party’s leading figures. A former chartered accountant, Chadha has been with AAP since its inception. He previously represented the Rajinder Nagar constituency as an MLA and played a crucial role in AAP’s sweeping victory in the 2022 Punjab state elections. At 35, Chadha is considered one of the country’s most prominent young politicians and is known for effectively representing AAP’s stance on major issues in Parliament.
Kailash Gahlot: A lawyer by profession, Kailash Gahlot is one of the senior leaders in the AAP government, overseeing crucial portfolios like transport, finance, and home affairs. Since 2015, he has represented the Najafgarh constituency as an MLA. The 50-year-old has practiced law in both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court and served as a member of the executive committee of the Delhi High Court Bar Association from 2005 to 2007.
Sanjay Singh: A Rajya Sabha MP since 2018, Sanjay Singh is one of AAP’s most prominent leaders, known for his impassioned speeches in Parliament. The 52-year-old holds a diploma in Mining Engineering and is a founding member of the party, serving on its national executive and political affairs committee. He frequently represents AAP in media interactions, articulating the party’s stance on key issues. Singh was arrested in connection with a corruption case related to the Delhi liquor policy, similar to Kejriwal and Sisodia, and is currently out on bail.
