AAP leader Atishi was officially sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday evening. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena administered the oath of office to Atishi, who currently handles key portfolios such as finance, education, PWD, and revenue. Alongside her, five other leaders were also sworn in as ministers. Atishi’s appointment follows the resignation of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who stepped down after his release on bail. AAP legislators unanimously elected Atishi as the new Chief Minister, making her the 17th woman in Indian history to hold this position.
At 43, Atishi has also set a record as the youngest woman to assume the role of Chief Minister in Delhi. Sheila Dikshit served as Delhi’s Chief Minister for 15 years between 1998 and 2013, while Sushma Swaraj briefly held the post in 1998 for 52 days. Atishi, at 43, now joins the ranks of these prominent leaders, assuming the responsibility at a younger age than both Dikshit, who took office at 60, and Swaraj, who became CM at 46.
Known for her eloquence, Atishi has become a strong force within AAP, steering the party through challenging times, especially amid the fallout from the liquor case scandal. With several senior leaders facing legal issues, Atishi, along with Saurabh Bharadwaj, has led the party’s efforts to rebuild its standing. In June this year, she made headlines by staging a hunger strike demanding the release of 100 million gallons of water from Haryana to Delhi.
#WATCH | AAP leader Atishi takes oath as Chief Minister of Delhi pic.twitter.com/R1iomGAaS9
— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2024