The development came two days after Arvind Kejriwal announced his intention to resign as Delhi’s chief minister within 48 hours, following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him bail in the Delhi liquor scam. Kejriwal declared that he would seek re-election and would not return to office without first obtaining a “certificate of honesty” from the people of Delhi.
Kejriwal has also requested that the Election Commission schedule Delhi assembly elections in November. During a meeting of the AAP legislative party, Atishi was unanimously appointed as the interim CM until the next election. Gopal Rai, an AAP leader, explained that this decision was made under difficult circumstances, criticizing the BJP and accusing the central government of using agencies to undermine AAP. He mentioned that attempts were made to force Kejriwal’s resignation from jail to topple the Delhi government. However, Kejriwal decided to continue running the government from jail and, after being released, would go to the people for re-election.
Atishi, a key figure in AAP, holds several important portfolios, including finance, education, and public works, and is known for her strong criticism of the BJP, especially during Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia’s imprisonment. She also played a prominent role in defending the AAP government during the Delhi water crisis.
While several AAP leaders, such as Saurabh Bhardwaj, Gopal Rai, and Kailash Gehlot, were considered frontrunners for the chief ministerial role, Bharadwaj remarked that regardless of who holds the position of Delhi CM, the seat belongs to Arvind Kejriwal as he was elected by the people of the capital.
Atishi’s appointment comes just days after the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal bail in the excise policy case, with the court barring him from entering the chief minister’s office. The BJP has claimed that Kejriwal’s resignation is a result of the court’s conditions.
