Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi took charge of Delhi Chief Minister on Monday, drawing parallels to the Hindu epic Ramayana and expressing her “personal agony” over the transition.
At a press conference, Atishi highlighted an empty chair beside her, stating it would remain vacant until Arvind Kejriwal returns to power. She likened her situation to that of Bharat in the Ramayana, who refused to occupy the throne left by Lord Ram as a sign of his love and loyalty. “I share the same pain as Bharat,” she said. “Just as Bharat ruled with Lord Ram’s wooden sandals, I will take charge with this empty chair for the next four months.”
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Atishi emphasized that her appointment is temporary and symbolic. She criticized the BJP for its actions against Kejriwal, stating, “For the last two years, the BJP has left no stone unturned in targeting Arvind Kejriwal. He was jailed for six months and has vowed not to sit in the CM chair again until the people of Delhi see him as honest.” She also referenced a court ruling that indicated Kejriwal’s arrest was malicious.
“This chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal. I am confident that in the February elections, the people of Delhi will elect him as Chief Minister once again,” she asserted.
Atishi was sworn in on Saturday alongside new Cabinet ministers Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Imran Hussain, and Mukesh Ahlawat, with one ministerial post still vacant. The new ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working under Kejriwal’s leadership.
As the youngest and third woman to serve as Chief Minister of Delhi, Atishi’s succession follows Kejriwal’s resignation after his bail in the liquor policy scam by the Supreme Court. She was unanimously selected as the AAP leader at a legislative party meeting on September 17 and represents Delhi’s Kalkaji constituency.
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