Atishi Takes Charge as Delhi's Eighth Chief Minister, Vows to Bring Kejriwal Back

Delhi, India: AAP leader Atishi took charge as the Chief Minister of Delhi, becoming the eighth and only the third woman to hold the office, following in the footsteps of Congress' Sheila Dikshit and BJP's Sushma Swaraj. At 43, she is the youngest to assume the role in the capital's history.

Atishi's appointment came after former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned following an interim bail order by the Supreme Court in the excise policy case. Her name was proposed as the next CM by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), marking a significant transition in Delhi's political leadership.

In addition to being sworn in as the Chief Minister, Atishi retained the 13 portfolios she managed in the previous Kejriwal administration, including key departments such as education, finance, revenue, power, and PWD. The new cabinet also saw the induction of Mukesh Ahlawat, who took charge of the labour, SC/ST, employment, and land and building portfolios. Meanwhile, Gopal Rai retained his earlier ministries.

During her first speech after taking the oath, Atishi praised AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, crediting him for transforming the lives of Delhiites. She expressed her intention to ensure his return as Chief Minister in the future. "Today, I have taken oath as Chief Minister, but it is an emotional moment for us when Arvind Kejriwal is not the CM. He changed the lives of people in Delhi. Our mission is now clear – to bring him back as Chief Minister again," she stated passionately.

A video circulating on social media showed Atishi, who is the MLA from Kalkaji, touching Kejriwal's feet as a gesture of respect following her swearing-in ceremony.

Atishi is also one of only two female Chief Ministers currently serving in India, alongside West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee. However, her tenure as Delhi's Chief Minister is expected to be brief, with the next Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 2025.