New Delhi: Delhi minister Atishi is set to become the new Chief Minister following Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation after his meeting with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena this afternoon. The decision was made during a meeting of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators today.
At the meeting, AAP leader Dilip Pandey suggested that Mr. Kejriwal choose the next Chief Minister. When the AAP national convener proposed Atishi’s name, all the MLAs unanimously supported the decision, and Atishi was elected as the leader of the legislature party.
Atishi currently oversees key portfolios in the Delhi government, including Education and Public Works Department. An Oxford University alumna and Rhodes Scholar, she has played a pivotal role in AAP’s efforts to revamp Delhi’s school education system.
Atishi, the 43-year-old MLA from Kalkaji, was appointed as a minister after Manish Sisodia’s arrest in connection with a corruption case related to Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy. During the time when both Mr. Kejriwal and Mr. Sisodia were imprisoned, Atishi became the key spokesperson for the party at events and in media interactions.
On August 15, Mr. Kejriwal selected her to hoist the tricolour at the Delhi government’s Independence Day event. Although the plan was thwarted by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, it signaled the AAP leadership’s strong trust and confidence in Atishi.
After the announcement, Ms. Atishi expressed her gratitude to her mentor, Mr. Kejriwal, stating, “Arvind Kejriwal has trusted me with this responsibility. I urge the people of Delhi to support Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister once again, as he is a man of integrity.”
Her appointment comes just two days after Mr. Kejriwal’s surprising decision to step down from the Chief Minister’s position. At a party workers’ gathering on Sunday, Kejriwal announced, “In two days, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not return to the position until the people have spoken. With elections in Delhi months away, I have received justice from the legal system, and now I seek justice from the people’s court. I will only resume the Chief Minister’s role based on the people’s mandate.”
Mr. Kejriwal’s announcement followed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him bail in a corruption case related to Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy, which led to his release from prison after six months.
While the Assembly elections in Delhi are slated for February, Mr. Kejriwal has requested that they be held in November, alongside the Maharashtra elections. Both Kejriwal and former Deputy Manish Sisodia have stated they will seek the public’s support and will not return to their positions until the people have rendered their verdict.
