(Image source from: x.com/ani_digital)
Atishi, a senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, has been sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Delhi, succeeding Arvind Kejriwal. Atishi, who represents the Kalkaji constituency and was the only woman minister in the outgoing cabinet, was unanimously selected by AAP MLAs during a party meeting. Along with Atishi, her council of ministers, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain, and Mukesh Ahlawat, also took the oath of office at a low-key ceremony in Raj Niwas, New Delhi. The Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, administered the oath of office to Atishi and her council of ministers. Kejriwal had earlier resigned from the Chief Minister's post after securing bail from the Supreme Court in the alleged excise policy case. The President has appointed Atishi as the new Chief Minister of Delhi and has also accepted Kejriwal's resignation, as well as cleared the appointment of the five ministers.
The current mood is not upbeat due to Kejriwal's resignation and the delay in approvals, leaving little time for preparations. After Kejriwal stepped down as the Delhi Chief Minister along with his cabinet, the files for his resignation and the formation of the new government by Atishi were sent to the President for approval. The new cabinet includes Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Imran Hussain, and new member Mukesh Ahlawat, a first-time MLA from Sultanpur Majra. Rai, Gahlot, Bharadwaj, and Hussain were also ministers in the previous Kejriwal government. In the outgoing Kejriwal government, Atishi held various portfolios, including finance, revenue, PWD, power, and education. Rai was responsible for the environment, development, and general administration departments, while Bharadwaj oversaw the health, tourism, and urban development departments. Gahlot was in charge of the transport, home, and women and child development departments, and Hussain was the minister for food and supplies.
The AAP leader stated that people like them became ministers due to Arvind Kejriwal and Baba Saheb. They will work as much as possible, prioritizing the needs of Dalit and backward communities. Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said that Kejriwal has decided to go to the public, and the party's goal is to make him Chief Minister again. The new government's priority will be to continue the pending tasks. Rai emphasized that working is their priority, as the people of Delhi elected them to work. The government change happened due to specific circumstances, and their aim is to move forward with the remaining work. Rai added that Arvind Kejriwal has decided to go to the people's court, and their mission is to collaborate with the people of Delhi to make him the CM again. As soon as Atishi took over, the BJP started questioning the new chief minister and attacking Kejriwal.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari wrote a letter to Atishi congratulating him on his new appointment and voicing some of his concerns ranging from alcohol tax policy to school infrastructure. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, "Now that you have taken oath and become the President of Delhi, we expect you to announce the inauguration of the Sheesh Mahal." This magnificent structure was built with people's hard-earned money funded in Delhi and now it's time for them to visit it. We don't expect much from you, but congratulations on your new role. BJP IT department chief Amit Malviya said Kejriwal's resignation as CM was a ploy to hide his humiliation.
“Arvind Kejriwal's resignation as Delhi chief minister is a good exile,” he says in meets. The Atishi government's tenure will be short-lived as Delhi assembly elections are scheduled for February next year. The new government should push and adhere to various upcoming social policies and programs including the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, Electric Vehicle 2.0 policy and door-to-door services.
