Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal officially stepped down as the Chief Minister of Delhi after meeting Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday. His resignation paves the way for Atishi, a senior AAP leader and minister, to take over as the next Chief Minister. Atishi, who was unanimously chosen by the party’s legislators, also met with the Lt Governor to stake her claim for the post.

Kejriwal proposed Atishi’s name during a meeting with the legislature party, and her nomination was unanimously endorsed by the AAP MLAs. According to party sources, there will be no Deputy Chief Minister, and Atishi, who represents the Kalkaji constituency, is expected to be sworn in during a special Assembly session on September 26-27.

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai commented on Atishi’s appointment, highlighting the challenges the party faces. “Atishi has been entrusted with this responsibility during testing times. Agencies are being misused to destabilize AAP, but these efforts have been thwarted,” Rai said. He emphasized her dual mission: to work for the welfare of Delhi’s two crore citizens and to counter what he described as conspiracies by the BJP.

Kejriwal’s sudden announcement of his resignation on September 15, just after being granted bail in the liquor policy case, created a political stir in the capital.

Who is Atishi?

Atishi, an Oxford University alumna and Rhodes scholar, has been a prominent figure within the AAP, especially close to Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. She previously served as an advisor to Sisodia until 2018 and has played a vital role behind the scenes in the party’s governance.

Her significance within the party was underscored when Kejriwal, unable to attend the Delhi government’s Independence Day celebrations, recommended Atishi to hoist the national flag in his stead. Currently, she is the only woman minister in Delhi's Cabinet and handles 14 portfolios, including education, finance, public works, and revenue.

Atishi gained wider recognition after Kejriwal and other AAP leaders were arrested in connection with the liquor policy case. She became the party’s public face, regularly defending the AAP leadership and articulating the government’s stance at press conferences.

With Delhi’s Assembly elections slated for February next year, Atishi’s immediate task will be to prepare the AAP for the polls. Known for her administrative skills, she has been credited for her role in transforming the capital’s education sector.

Atishi, now 43, comes from an academic background, with both parents being professors at Delhi University. She joined AAP in 2013 and participated in the Jal Satyagraha in Madhya Pradesh in 2015. Although she lost her first election to cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir in 2019, she rebounded by winning the Kalkaji seat in the 2020 Delhi Assembly polls.