Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi will take her oath as Delhi’s sixth Chief Minister on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena will administer the oath at Raj Niwas, marking a significant milestone for both the party and the capital.
Atishi, a legislator from Kalkaji, will lead a Cabinet that retains four current ministers: Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bhardwaj, and Imran Hussain. Dalit MLA Mukesh Ahlawat will join the Cabinet as a new face, while one ministerial position remains vacant.
She will become Delhi’s third woman Chief Minister, following in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj from the BJP and Sheila Dikshit from the Congress.
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Atishi was elected as the leader of the legislative party on Tuesday, shortly after Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation. Kejriwal, recently released from jail following a Supreme Court bail decision in a CBI case related to the liquor policy, has faced limitations on his official duties, including restrictions on office access and file signing.
Following Kejriwal’s resignation, Atishi visited the Lt Governor with him to formally stake her claim to form the new government. The Lt Governor has proposed a swearing-in date of September 21.
The newly appointed Chief Minister will need to demonstrate her government’s majority in a special session of the 70-member Assembly scheduled for September 26-27. Atishi will lead the government through the remainder of its term, which concludes in February, ahead of upcoming elections.
In a show of solidarity, Atishi expressed her support for Kejriwal, emphasizing that his leadership is crucial for ensuring a “better life and promising future” for Delhi residents, particularly in providing free electricity and water. She urged voters to elect Kejriwal again to prevent conditions similar to those in Uttar Pradesh from taking root in the capital.
Atishi announced that Kejriwal will launch a public outreach program next Sunday to engage with citizens and garner their support for his return to leadership.
