New Delhi, Sept 21: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi, will take the oath of office as Delhi’s sixth Chief Minister on Saturday at 4:30 PM, with Lt Governor V.K. Saxena officiating at Raj Niwas.
Her appointment comes after Arvind Kejriwal stepped down amid legal issues linked to the liquor policy case. Atishi, who has held various ministerial roles in the Kejriwal government, was selected as the legislative party leader earlier this week.
Four existing ministers—Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bhardwaj, and Imran Hussain—will retain their positions, while Mukesh Ahlawat, a Dalit MLA, will join the Cabinet as a new member. One ministerial role remains unfilled.
Atishi becomes Delhi’s third woman Chief Minister, following Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit. The AAP has been in power for four years, with elections anticipated in February 2025.
She stressed the necessity of Kejriwal’s leadership for Delhi’s future and urged voters to re-elect him, warning that neglecting this could lead to adverse conditions similar to those in Uttar Pradesh.
A special Assembly session is set for September 26-27, during which Atishi will aim to demonstrate her government’s majority in the 70-member legislature.
Kejriwal is planning a public outreach initiative starting next Sunday, focusing on regaining public support and reaffirming his commitment to providing free electricity and water to residents.
