Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday, succeeding Arvind Kejriwal, who resigned earlier in the week. The transition comes ahead of the assembly elections scheduled for February next year.
Several key members of the previous government have retained their ministerial positions in Atishi’s new cabinet. Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, and Kailash Gahlot took the oath again, while Imran Hussain also retained his post as a minister. A new face, Sultanpur Majra legislator Mukesh Ahlawat, was inducted into the cabinet.
Atishi, aged 43, was chosen as the leader of AAP’s legislative party on Tuesday, shortly before Kejriwal submitted his resignation to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. Known for her pivotal role in Kejriwal’s administration, Atishi previously managed a significant portfolio that included 14 departments, such as finance, education, and revenue.
Kejriwal’s decision to step down follows his recent release on bail, granted by the Supreme Court in a corruption case related to the Delhi excise policy. Announcing his resignation, Kejriwal declared that he would not return to the position until the people of Delhi give their verdict in the upcoming elections.
“I will not sit on the CM chair until the public decides. I will go to every household and street to seek their verdict,” Kejriwal had stated.
