At the ceremony at Raj Niwas on Saturday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi took oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. As the 17th woman to hold this office, Atishi has made history in India, succeeding Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit as the third woman leader of Delhi. This appointment is an important time for the role of women in leadership within the capital.
Atishi stood alongside five others as they took their ministerial oaths in the newly formed Delhi Cabinet. The ministers feature distinguished AAP leaders Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Imran Hussain, along with a newcomer, Mukesh Ahlawat. The swearing-in ceremony was, overall, a rather low-key affair, as the party’s mood had fallen after the resignation of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Kejriwal, who is the national convenor for AAP, stepped out as the Chief Minister of Delhi on September 17. He tendered his resignation not long after he obtained bail from the Supreme Court on the back of the disputed excise policy ‘scam’ case. According to Kejriwal’s resignation speech, he intended to take office again as Chief Minister – but solely after receiving “a certificate of honesty” from the citizens of Delhi in the coming assembly election.
He called for early polls in the national capital, but he did not mention seeking an early breakdown of the Delhi Assembly. The AAP is getting ready for the polls as the Delhi Assembly elections are planned for February next year. The party is also stepping up its electioneering in neighbouring Haryana as they look to increase its hold on politics.
The selection of Atishi reflects a turning point for the AAP since the party plans to contest multiple important elections over the next few months amid the aftermath of Kejriwal’s resignation.
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