GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 21st Sept. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi was sworn in today as the new Chief Minister of Delhi, following Arvind Kejriwal’s recent resignation and bail in the Delhi liquor policy case. Atishi, the youngest leader to assume this role, met with Kejriwal and other AAP leaders prior to her oath-taking ceremony.
Joining Atishi in her cabinet is Mukesh Ahlawat, a first-time MLA from Sultanpur Majra, alongside seasoned AAP members Gopal Rai, Imran Hussain, Kailash Gahlot, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, all of whom were sworn in as new ministers. The ceremony was notably low-key, reflecting the somber mood within the party after Kejriwal’s departure.
“This is an emotional moment for me as he (Arvind Kejriwal) will not be the Chief Minister. He understood the pain of every person and ensured free treatment for the public, worked to enhance the lives of students in government schools, and introduced free bus rides for women,” Atishi stated.
She emphasized her commitment to thwarting any “conspiracy” by the BJP, now that Kejriwal is out of jail.
Atishi becomes the third woman to hold the Chief Ministerial position in Delhi, following Sushma Swaraj of the BJP and Sheila Dikshit of Congress. As the Kalkaji MLA, she previously held multiple portfolios in the Kejriwal administration and is set to demonstrate her government’s majority during a special assembly session on September 26-27.
Her ascent comes at a critical time for the AAP, which is gearing up for the upcoming assembly elections early next year. Atishi faces the urgent task of fast-tracking pending policies and public welfare initiatives, including the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0, and doorstep delivery of services.
Atishi is familiar with navigating challenging circumstances; her earlier cabinet induction occurred during the turbulence following Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s arrest last year related to the liquor policy case. Though she joined AAP in 2013, Atishi worked behind the scenes as an adviser on education policies until she ventured into electoral politics in 2019, where she contested the Lok Sabha election against BJP’s Gautam Gambhir. She successfully secured her position in the Delhi assembly in 2020, winning from the Kalkaji constituency.
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