Atishi takes oath as Delhi’s youngest Chief Minister

New Delhi, Sep 21: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Minister Atishi took oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi at a low-key ceremony held at Raj Niwas, New Delhi on September 21.

It comes just days after Arvind Kejriwal resigned following his bail in the Delhi liquor policy case. Atishi, age 42 is the youngest leader to ever hold the position and the third woman to become Delhi’s Chief Minister, following in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj of the BJP and Sheila Dikshit of the Congress.

Before the swearing-in ceremony, Atishi, along with the newly appointed cabinet ministers, met with Mr. Kejriwal, now former Chief Minister. The new cabinet includes Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, Imran Hussain, Kailash Gahlot, and first-time MLA Mukesh Ahlawat from Sultanpur Majra, who is considered a fresh face in the administration.

Atishi, an alumna of Delhi University’s St. Stephen’s College, holds a degree in History and went on to study at the University of Oxford on a Chevening scholarship, earning a Master’s degree in Education. Known for her academic rigor and administrative acumen, she has been a pivotal figure in shaping Delhi’s education landscape especially particularly the transformation of government schools in Delhi, earned her widespread acclaim and established her as one of the influential leaders in the AAP.

Earlier, Atishi held several key portfolios in the previous government, including education, public works, power, and tourism.

Her appointment comes at a challenging time for the party. Kejriwal’s resignation has left the AAP in a difficult situation, and the new administration now faces the critical task of proving its majority in the 70-member Delhi Assembly during a special session scheduled for September 26-27.

According to media quoting party sources, Atishi is likely to retain key portfolios such as finance, education, public works, and power, ensuring continuity in the areas she has been deeply involved with.