Delhi’s political landscape is set for a significant change as Minister Atishi Marlena is poised to become the next Chief Minister, following Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to step down from the top post. The announcement came after a key meeting with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators’ meeting held today.
During the AAP MLAs meeting, party leader Dilip Pandey proposed that Kejriwal decide on his successor. Kejriwal’s choice of Atishi as the new Chief Minister was met with unanimous approval from all AAP MLAs, leading to her election as the leader of the legislature party.
Atishi, a 43-year-old MLA from Kalkaji, has held important portfolios in the Delhi government, including the Education and Public Works Departments. An Oxford University alumna and Rhodes scholar, she has been instrumental in the AAP’s ambitious educational reforms. Her appointment as Chief Minister underscores her critical role in the party and government.
The transition comes after Kejriwal’s dramatic announcement on Sunday that he would resign as Chief Minister. Addressing party workers, Kejriwal stated, “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.”
This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling granting Kejriwal bail in a corruption case related to Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy. The bail led to his release from prison after six months. Kejriwal has called for elections to be advanced to November, in conjunction with the Maharashtra elections, rather than waiting until February.
In her first statement as the incoming Chief Minister, Atishi expressed gratitude to Kejriwal for his trust. “Arvind Kejriwal has trusted me and given me this responsibility. I appeal to all people of Delhi to make your son, your brother Arvind Kejriwal the Chief Minister again because he is honest,” she said.
