4 Reasons Why Atishi Became Delhi’s New CM: Her Journey from Minister to Chief in 1.5 Years

Atishi, the current Education and Finance Minister of the AAP government in Delhi, will be the next Chief Minister of Delhi. Atishi was unanimously elected leader in the Legislature Party meeting held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal. AAP State Convenor Gopal Rai said that Dilip Pandey proposed Atishi’s name. Arvind Kejriwal met Lieutenant Governor Vinay Saxena at 4.30 pm and submitted his resignation from the post of Chief Minister. After this, Atishi staked a claim to form the government before the LG.

Atishi, MLA from Kalkaji assembly seat, will be Delhi’s third woman Chief Minister. Earlier, Sushma Swaraj from BJP and Sheila Dixit from Congress held power in Delhi. Atishi was made a minister for the first time on 09 March 2023. After the arrest of Manish Sisodia, she got entry into the Kejriwal cabinet. She is considered close to Sisodia.

Atishi grew up in Delhi and was born on 8 June 1981 to Vijay Singh Tomar and Tripta Wahi. They are originally from Punjab, but Atishi grew up in Delhi. She comes from a Rajput family, but her parents added the word Marlena to her name. However, in 2018, she took forward her name as just Atishi. Now she is known everywhere only as Atishi.

Took a master’s degree from Oxford

Aatishi has been a good scholar in studies from the beginning. After completing her schooling at Springdale School, Pusa Road, Atishi completed her graduation in history from St. Stephen’s under Delhi University in 2001. Immediately after that, she took a master’s degree in history from Oxford University on scholarship. In 2005, she studied at Magdalen College from Oxford University with a Rhodes Scholarship.

Why was Atishi selected?

■ Atishi has been associated with the party since the early days. Played an important role in shaping many schemes including the Delhi Education Model.

■ After Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal went to jail, she took forward her work with the maximum number of departments in the government.

■ She kept raising the issues of the party and the government strongly on every platform. Being a good policymaker, she currently has a good hold on the government.

■ She is among the trusted leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party.

On being elected CM, Atishi said that I am happy, but also sad because Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had resigned. I want to say on behalf of all the MLAs of AAP and the 2 crore people of Delhi that Delhi has only one Chief Minister and his name is Arvind Kejriwal. BJP has left no stone unturned in harassing Kejriwal and plotting against him for the last two years. A man who can refuse an IRS job can resign from the post of Chief Minister, such an honest man was accused of corruption by the BJP, and he was kept in jail in a false case. Atishi told the journalists that now we have to work hard for the next few months. The development work that Kejriwal has started for the people has to be continued. Our only aim is to make Kejriwal the Chief Minister again with a huge majority.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, “Changing the face will not change the character of the Aam Aadmi Party. The party led by Kejriwal is still accountable for the corruption in its 10 years of rule. The new Chief Minister will have to explain how she looted the people of Delhi.”

Delhi Congress President Devendra Yadav said, “Best wishes to Atishi. She should work to solve the problems of the people and stop the increasing atrocities on women. AAP cannot ignore the problems of the people.”

Rules for forming a government in Delhi

From the Lieutenant Governor to the President, everyone plays a big role in the formation of a new government in Delhi. After the new Chief Minister is elected, a new cabinet is formed. According to the procedure, first of all, the CM has to submit his resignation to the Lieutenant Governor. It is approved by the LG and sent to the President. After that, the President also approves the resignation. This is how the process of forming a new government is completed. According to the rules, the new leader of the legislative party meets the Lieutenant Governor along with his members and stakes claim to form the new government. The consent of the Lieutenant Governor has to be taken on this first and then the final seal is put by the President. Finally, the Chief Minister and his cabinet take oath.