Atishi Formally Takes Charge As Delhi's New Chief Minister

Atishi formally took charge as Delhi's new Chief Minister on September 23, days after she was chosen to replace former leader Arvind Kejriwal following his resignation. The decision was taken on September 17 at an AAP legislators' meeting, where the outgoing minister himself proposed she take his place. As she assumed the new role, Atishi reportedly left a seat vacant next to her own, as a sign of continued allegiance to her predecessor.

Atishi Formally Takes Charge As Delhi's New Chief Minister

"This chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal, and I am certain that in the February elections, the people of Delhi will once again elect him as their Chief Minister. Until then, this chair will remain in this office, waiting for him to return," she told the media. Atishi took oath on September 21 as the youngest and only third female chief minister of Delhi.

Taking charge as the Chief Minister of Delhi. LIVE https://t.co/AvLpC8u1f6

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) September 23, 2024

On September 15, CM Kejriwal made a surprising announcement about his resignation. "Two days later, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not sit on that chair till the people announce their verdict. Elections in Delhi are months away. I got justice from the legal court, now I will get justice from the people's court. I will sit on the Chief Minister's chair only after the order of the people," he told the media, according to NDTV.

Who is Atishi?

Atishi has been a minister in the Kejriwal cabinet since March 2023 as a member of the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC). An Oxford University alumnus and a Rhodes scholar, Atishi has held at least 14 key portfolios in her distinguished political career. Atishi, who has a Rhodes Scholarship from Magdalen College, Oxford, is an Indian Politician, political activist, and educator from the Kalkaji constituency.

Before being agreed as Chief Minister, the AAP leader served as the Education Minister, P.W.D, Culture and Tourism in the Delhi Government. She was a key member and Advisor for the Former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia's team. Atishi is also recognised for her social impact and activism efforts, according to the AAP website. 

Atishi stepped into politics in 2013 and contested the Lok Sabha election from the East Delhi seat in 2019. She lost to Bharatiya Janata Party's Gautam Gambhir by a margin of approximately 4.77 lakh votes and came third. Later in the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, she defeated Dharambir Singh, a BJP candidate by a total of 11,422 votes. She was inducted into the Delhi Government as a Cabinet Minister, along with Saurabh Bharadwaj after the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia and Health Minister Satyender Jain.

Atishi is married to Pravin Singh, a researcher and educator by profession. Pravin Singh earned his degree from IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad.