Atishi Takes Charge As Delhi CM With 'Special' Gesture For Arvind Kejriwal

Atishi has officially taken charge as the Chief Minister of Delhi, making her the city's third woman CM after Congress' Sheila Dikshit and BJP's Sushma Swaraj.

During her swearing-in ceremony, she made a symbolic gesture by leaving the chief minister's chair empty for Arvind Kejriwal, sitting next to it instead. She was sworn in along with five cabinet ministers, including four from the previous ministry and a new face, Mukesh Ahlawat.

Her rise to the position came after Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation following the Supreme Court's interim bail order in the excise policy case.

Atishi retained 13 portfolios she held during Kejriwal's government, including education, finance, and power, while Gopal Rai kept his former portfolios. The new cabinet minister, Mukesh Ahlawat, was assigned the labour, SC and ST, employment, and land and building departments.

In her first speech as chief minister, Atishi paid tribute to Arvind Kejriwal, highlighting the impact he had on the lives of Delhi's citizens and urging the public to bring him back as CM.

"Today, I have taken oath as Chief Minister, but it is an emotional moment for us when Arvind Kejriwal is not the CM. He changed the lives of people of Delhi. We all have to do just one work now-to make Arvind Kejriwal the chief minister of Delhi again," she said.

A video circulating online showed Atishi, MLA from Kalkaji, touching Kejriwal's feet after taking her oath, a gesture that showed her respect for the AAP chief.

At 43, Atishi is the youngest ever to serve as Delhi's CM. She is also one of only two female CMs currently serving in India, alongside West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee. However, her tenure will be brief, as Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February 2025.