Atishi Marlena Sworn In as Delhi’s New Chief Minister

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi Marlena was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday, September 21, 2024, succeeding Arvind Kejriwal who resigned earlier in the week. Atishi, aged 43, becomes the third woman to hold the chief ministerial position in the national capital after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit.

The swearing-in ceremony also saw Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, and Kailash Gahlot continuing their roles as ministers, with Imran Hussain also retaining his cabinet position. A notable addition to the council of ministers is Mukesh Ahlawat, the Sultanpur Majra MLA, marking his debut in the Delhi cabinet. The current government’s term is expected to be short-lived with assembly elections slated for February of the following year.

Earlier this week, Atishi was chosen as the leader of the legislature party which paved the way for her elevation as the chief minister. Her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal, announced his resignation shortly after being granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with a corruption investigation concerning the Delhi excise policy.

Commenting on his decision to step down, Kejriwal declared, “I will not sit on the CM chair until the people give their verdict. Your vote will be a certificate for my honesty.” He urged for early elections to be conducted in November, paralleling them with upcoming Maharashtra elections, although the Delhi assembly elections are due in February.

Atishi, who managed a range of portfolios in the Kejriwal-led cabinet, including Finance, Education, and Revenue, has played a significant role in party politics over the years. Her prior experience includes serving as an advisor to former Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia and participating in the Political Affairs Committee of the Aam Aadmi Party. In 2019, she ran for Lok Sabha but was defeated by politician Gautam Gambhir.