Much ridiculed for his decision to resign from the post of Delhi Chief Minister, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal passed on the baton to minister Atishi on Tuesday to serve as chief minister for the rest of the term AAP is in power.

Atishi’s name was proposed by Kejriwal at a party MLAs meeting and was unanimously accepted by all MLAs. She will take over after Kejriwal resigns after meeting Delhi LG VK Saxena.

The Kalkaji MLA asumed ministerial duties after the arrest of former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and took over the PWD and Education ministries. She was also the leader who put forward AAP views after the arrest of Sisodia and Kejriwal.

Upon getting bail in the liquor policy case, Kejriwal, who had spent some six months in prison, said on Sunday while he got justice from the courts, he would occupy the CM’s chair only after getting justice the people’s court (elections). He said he will quit in two days.

The list of potential successors had been short with Atishi headlining it. After she was announced as Kejriwal’s successor, Atishi thanked him for trusting her and endowing her with the responsibility. She called upon the voters of Delhi to cast their ballot in favour of “your son, your brother” Kejriwal because he is honest.

Elections to the Delhi Legislative Assembly are due in February 2025 but the AAP convener has been pushing for it to be held along with elections in other states, Maharashtra to be specific, in November.

Atishi has been the stand-in for AAP and would also be the stand-in CM. The history of stand-in chief ministers has not been entirely uneventful in India. The recent case being that of Champai Soren in Jharkhand and the other being Jitanram Manjhi in Bihar. While Manjhi launched his own party after having to demit office, Champai Soren switched over to the BJP.

Given Atishi’s academic and family pedigree, AAP would be hoping she won’t turn out to be a power addict.

Sanjay Gaikwad, an MLA of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, sparked a row on Monday after he announced a reward of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who will “chops off the tongue” of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his statement on reservation in the US.

Gaikwad’s statement comes days after the Rae Bareli MP, in the United States, said that the Congress party would think of scrapping reservations.

Speaking to reporters, the Shinde Sena MLA said, “Rahul Gandhi made a statement regarding giving an end to reservation in the country at a time when the demands for reservation are rising.”

“Rahul Gandhi wants to end reservation for backward tribals and others and hence he is using the language of ending it,” Gaikwad said.

“In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi spread a false narrative to get votes. Today he is speaking the language of ending reservation from the country and has shown the real face of the Congress. This is my challenge whoever chops off Rahul Gandhi’s tongue will be given a reward of Rs 11 lakh on my behalf,” he added.

The Shiv Sena MLA called Gandhi’s remarks the biggest treachery of the people and said communities like Marathas, Dhangars and OBCs are fighting for reservation but before that, Gandhi is talking about ending its benefits.

He continued saying that Congress leader Gandhi used to show the Constitution book and spread a fake narrative that the BJP would change it.

“But it is the Congress that plans to take the country back by 400 years. On one hand, demands of reservation are rising in Maharashtra, and there Rahul Gandhi made a statement to end reservation in the country,” Gaikwad added.

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate slammed Shiv Sena and its ally in Maharashtra, BJP, after Gaikwad’s disgusting remarks against Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference, Shrinate asked who is behind such violent statements that BJP leaders and their allies are using against the Opposition leader. “Whose protection do they enjoy?” Shrinate said.

Such violent statements against the Leader of the Opposition will not be tolerated at all in a democracy, she said.

“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah do not take action against these people then it is clear that this is being done at their behest,” the Congress spokesperson said.

The BJP, however, has distanced itself from Gaikwad’s remarks. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule said he does not support or endorse the Shiv Sena MLA’s statements.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday asserted that there were attempts to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, and added that it will be “buried to such a level” in the Union Territory that it can never rise again.

Addressing a public rally in Kishtwar, Shah said the National Conference-Congress alliance will not be able to form the J&K government.

“We will bury terrorism to such a level where it will never come out again. Attempts are on to revive terrorism as the National Conference and Congress manifesto talks about releasing terrorists. This is the Modi government and nobody has the power to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah said addressing an election rally in Padder-Nagseni assembly segment in support of  BJP’s candidate and former minister Sunil Sharma here.

“This election is between two powers, on one side National Conference and PDP and on the other BJP. The NC and Congress are saying that if we form the government we will restore Article 370. Tell me should it be restored? Your reservation, given by BJP to Paharis and Gujjars and others, will be snatched.

Launching a scathing attack on the alliance party in UT, the senior BJP leader said the Congress and National Conference have always nourished terrorism. “In the 1990s, Farooq Abdullah was the CM, you were elected after an agreement with Rajeev Gandhi. When the Kashmir Valley was soaked in blood due to terrorism, where were you? You went to London for a summer vacation,” he added.

“Nehru, Gandhi and Abdullah family spread terrorism here and now they want your blessings again. They boycotted the Kashmiri Pandits, spread terrorism and delayed reservation, do you want that NC-Congress again?” he said.

The Union Home Minister said that he had promised the Gurjars that the reservation would be given to Pahadis without affecting the previous one. “And now, the Modi government has given reservation to Pahadis without touching the Gurjar reservation. Now the Gurjars and Pahadis have tribal reservation, now your children can also become Collectors and DSPs,” he added.

“PM Modi abolished the rule of the three families and established Panchayati Raj in the state. The children will represent in the Vidhan Sabha and the Lok Sabha soon. PM Modi wants to make a Viksit J&K and wants to give the right of reservation to the OBC also,” Shah said.

This was the home minister’s second visit to Jammu region within a fortnight. Earlier, during his two-day visit to Jammu on September 6 and 7, he released BJP’s manifesto for J-K assembly elections and addressed a workers convention.

Monday is the last day for campaigning in 24 assembly constituencies, including Padder-Nagseni, which goes to polls in the first phase on September 18.