Arvind Kejriwal Resigns, Atishi Claims to Form Government

Arvind Kejriwal Resigns as Chief Minister, Atishi Claims to Form Government

On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and submitted his resignation from the position of Chief Minister. Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and minister Atishi, chosen by party legislators as the next Chief Minister, also met the Lieutenant Governor to stake her claim to the post.

Kejriwal proposed Atishi’s name at the legislature party meeting, which was unanimously accepted by AAP MLAs. Sources indicated that there will be no Deputy Chief Minister this time, and Atishi, who represents the Kalkaji constituency, will take the oath during a special Assembly session on September 26-27.

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai stated, “Atishi has been given responsibility during challenging times. Agencies were being misused against AAP to destabilize the government. AAP has thwarted these attempts.” Rai mentioned that Atishi’s primary responsibilities are to work for Delhi’s two crore people and to counter BJP’s conspiracies.

Kejriwal, who was granted bail in the liquor policy case last week, sent shockwaves through Delhi’s political arena when he announced his resignation on September 15.

Who is Atishi?

An Oxford University alumna and Rhodes scholar, Atishi is closely associated with Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, under whom she served as an advisor until 2018. Kejriwal even recommended Atishi to hoist the national flag in his stead during Delhi’s Independence Day program in a letter to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.

Atishi, the only woman minister in the Delhi Cabinet, oversees 14 portfolios, including education, finance, public works department, revenue, and services.

Known for working behind the scenes, Atishi gained prominence as the face of the party after the arrest of Kejriwal and top AAP leaders in the liquor policy case. Following Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21, Atishi frequently attended press conferences, defending the AAP chief and articulating the government’s stance.

This political upheaval in Delhi comes ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for February next year. Atishi, an efficient administrator praised for her work in enhancing Delhi’s education system, will need to prepare the party for these upcoming elections.

Born to Delhi University professors Vijay Kumar Singh and Tripta Wahi, the 43-year-old began her political journey with AAP in 2013. She gained attention by participating in the Jal Satyagraha in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh in 2015.

Her electoral career began with a loss to cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir from the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency in 2019. However, she was elected from the Kalkaji seat in the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, defeating BJP’s Dharambir Singh by over 11,000 votes.