New Delhi: The front-runner has been chosen. As expected, the turn of events has taken a turn. AAP On Tuesday, the legislative party elected the finance and education ministers pyrotechnicThe 43-year-old chose Sonia Gandhi as their leader, paving the way for her to become Delhi’s eighth chief minister.
outgoing Chief Minister of Delhi Later, Arvind Kejriwal, along with his Council of Ministers – Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gehlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Imran Hussain – met Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena at Raj Niwas and submitted his resignation to him.
After this, the nominated Chief Minister Atishi submitted a letter staking claim to form the government. If the assembly elections are held on time in February 2025, then she will remain on the post of Chief Minister for a maximum of five months in this term.
“Now Atishi has come forward to lead Delhi till the upcoming elections, and on her shoulders lie the burden of both CM Arvind Kejriwal’s vision and the future of the national capital,” the AAP said in a statement.
AAP officials said that the assembly session will be called on 26 and 27 September and the new government led by Atishi will prove its majority. This is just a formality considering the majority of 59 AAP MLAs in the 70-member House. In the last five months, three AAP MLAs have resigned.
While leaving the Raj Bhavan, Atishi told reporters, “If there would have been any other Chief Minister, he would have sat on the CM’s chair immediately after coming out of jail. No one in the world takes a decision like Kejriwal ji (of leaving the post).”
He said, “This is an emotional moment for the party and the people of Delhi. Also, the people of Delhi have also resolved that they will give a new direction to Delhi.” Arvind Kejriwal She said, “I will become the chief minister again. I will take care of Delhi until the elections are held.”
Atishi will be the second youngest woman to become CM after Choudhary Brahm Prakash (1952-55), who was a little under 34 when she took oath as CM. She will also be the third woman chief minister of the capital.
Kejriwal proposed his name in the legislative party meeting, which was held at his camp office on Flag Staff Road. It was accepted unanimously by all the MLAs.
Development, welfare Atishi’s priorities
Kejriwal on Monday held individual meetings with members of the AAP’s political affairs committee, including all ministers, and sought their opinion on possible successors.
Kejriwal had announced his resignation from his post on Sunday, less than 48 hours after his release from jail. Tihar Jail After getting bail in the excise policy case, he had told party workers that he would sit on the Chief Minister’s chair only after getting a “certificate of honesty” from the voters in the upcoming elections. He had ruled out the possibility of becoming Deputy Chief Minister Manish SisodiaWho was in jail for more than 17 months in this case, has been given this responsibility. Kejriwal had also requested Election Commission The Government of India has decided to hold elections in Delhi in November.
Atishi, a first-time MLA from Kalkaji, entered electoral politics in 2019 when she contested against BJP’s Gautam Gambhir but lost. In 2020, she contested the assembly elections from Kalkaji and won. She was inducted into the cabinet only after Sisodia and former health minister Satyendra Jain resigned due to being in jail in separate cases.
Initially, she was given six departments, which later increased to 13. Kejriwal never kept any department with himself during his first 49 days in office and even after 2015, but Atishi is likely to keep some departments.
Officials said the LG will send Kejriwal’s resignation and Atishi’s claim to form the government to the President and the Union Home Ministry. After getting the approval, the Raj Niwas will invite her to take the oath of office.
Speaking to reporters, AAP’s Delhi convener Gopal Rai had earlier announced that Atishi has been named the leader of the legislative party. “It was decided unanimously in the meeting that Atishi will assume responsibilities as the new CM until the next election, which we want to hold in October-November, when the people will again make Arvind Kejriwal the CM of Delhi with a huge majority,” Rai said.
He said Atishi will have two important responsibilities during her tenure as CM. Rai said, “She will ensure that development work in Delhi does not stop despite opposition from the BJP and all welfare schemes of the AAP government like free electricity, water and pilgrimages for senior citizens continue.”
Party officials insisted throughout the day that Atishi becoming the chief minister was an interim arrangement and Kejriwal would take charge after the elections (if AAP wins).
Kejriwal did not speak to the media or issue any statement after Atishi’s resignation. Reposting Sisodia’s post on Instagram, Kejriwal wrote in Hindi, “Best wishes to Atishi.”
In his post on X, Sisodia said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hatched a dirty political conspiracy and levelled false allegations against Kejriwal and other AAP functionaries, questioned their integrity, sent them to jail and tried to topple the government.
Sisodia said in an exclusive conversation, “Arvind Kejriwal has shown courage and resigned from the post of CM and announced that he will go to the public’s court. Today Atishi has been given the responsibility of Delhi CM till the elections.”
