As Atishi took charge as Delhi's Chief Minister on Monday, a notable gesture caught everyone's attention: an empty chair placed beside her own, signifying her loyalty to former CM Arvind Kejriwal. In an emotional speech, the 43-year-old leader, now Delhi’s youngest CM, compared herself to Bharat from the Ramayana, who ruled in Lord Ram’s absence by placing his sandals on the throne.

"Today, I bear the same responsibility as Bharat did. Just as he governed in Lord Ram's absence, I will serve Delhi with the same devotion until Arvind Kejriwal returns," she stated. Atishi confidently predicted that Kejriwal would regain the position in the upcoming elections, saying, "This chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal. I’m certain that the people of Delhi will bring him back to power in February."

Atishi, who was sworn in on Saturday as the third woman to lead Delhi after Congress' Sheila Dikshit and BJP's Sushma Swaraj, retained 13 key portfolios, including education, finance, and power. She will lead a cabinet with five ministers, four of whom were retained from the previous government, along with a new face, Mukesh Ahlawat.

Her rise to the CM position followed Kejriwal’s resignation after receiving interim bail from the Supreme Court in connection with the excise policy case.

BJP Criticizes Atishi’s Empty Chair Gesture

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva strongly condemned Atishi's decision to leave an empty chair for Kejriwal, calling it a breach of constitutional norms. “Placing two chairs at the CM's desk is not idealism, but clear sycophancy. It disrespects the office of the Chief Minister and the Constitution," Sachdeva argued, criticizing the gesture as an affront to Delhi’s citizens and the dignity of the CM office.

Atishi's government, though brief, will run until the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, and she remains one of only two female CMs currently serving in India, alongside West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee.