Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi took oath as Chief Minister of Delhi at Raj Niwas on Saturday. With this, she became the 17th woman to hold the top office in independent India and the third youngest after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit in the national capital.
Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, and other dignitaries were also present during the swearing-in ceremony. Atishi’s parents Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi were also present.
The Council of Ministers including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, Imran Hussain, Kailash Gahlot, and new Sultanpur Majra MLA Mukesh Ahlawat also took oath into the Delhi Cabinet along with Atishi.
The senior AAP leader, who will have a brief tenure in office as Assembly elections in the national capital are due in February, has become the second woman sitting Chief Minister alongside West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee.
The 43-year-old has been a key face of the party and managed AAP’s operations during Arvind Kejriwal’s time in Tihar jail in connection with the excise policy case.
The Kalkaji MLA’s name was proposed by Kejriwal, who tendered his resignation as Chief Minister, for the top post.
A first-time legislator, Atishi, name was selected unanimously following a meeting of the party MLAs in the presence of top leaders including AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.
On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Atishi as Delhi Chief Minister from the date of her being sworn in while accepting Kejriwal’s resignation. She also cleared the proposal to appoint five ministers.
After being inducted as Minister in Delhi cabinet, AAP leader Kailash Gahlot said that Kejriwal’s guidance as party’s national convenor will remain. “Our only goal is to continue to work for the people of Delhi like before and to bring back Arvind Kejriwal,” he added.
AAP MLA Gopal Rai, after taking oath as Delhi Minister, emphasised carrying forward the work that was started in Delhi under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal to new heights by the time of the next elections.
“Along with this, we will work as a team to control pollution that increases during the winters. We will also work on other pending work,” the newly inducted Minister added.
Speaking to reporters after taking oath as Delhi Minister, Mukesh Ahlawat said that the ministry that he is being assigned with has always been challenging. However, he said he would fulfill his responsibilities properly.
Another inducted Minister in Delhi cabinet, Imran Hussain, said, “In another 4-5 months, Delhi Assembly elections will be held and Delhi will make Arvind Kejriwal the CM again. The work is being done under the guidance of Arvind Kejriwal – be it the education model, free water, free bus travel for women and others.”