'Madam Chief Minister': FIVE Factors That Made Atishi The Most Obvious Choice For Arvind Kejriwal's Delhi CM Post

Delhi-NCR News: Atishi had taken on a prominent role in the party following the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy matter.

Delhi News Update: The lone woman minister in the Delhi Cabinet, Atishi Marlena Singh, was chosen by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Tuesday for the post of Delhi chief minister, with Arvind Kejriwal announcing his decision to step down. With just months to go before the Delhi Assembly election, Kejriwal will hand over power to the Kalkaji MLA, who had been handing the most number of portfolios in the AAP administration.

Delhi CM Post: Contenders' List

Following Arvind Kejriwal's announcement that he was resigning as chief minister, the names of a number of AAP leaders were doing the rounds as his successor. Kejriwal was in jail in connection with a case related to the Delhi liquor policy scam, and came out on interim bail last week.

Ministers Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi, and Sunita Kejriwal — the spouse of Arvind Kejriwal — were among the contenders. But Atishi emerged as the frontrunner for the top position. She had taken on a prominent role in the party following the arrest of Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy matter.

Five Factors That Likely Made Atishi The Obvious Choice For Delhi CM Post

Atishi: A Household Name 

Arvind Kejriwal was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21. In the party and the administration, there was no second-in-command because his erstwhile deputy Manish Sisodia was also imprisoned. Atishi, alongside Saurabh Bharadwaj, led the government's charge during the Lok Sabha elections, taking a strong stance against the party chief's detention. She became well-known during this period since she made the most media appearances out of all of her Delhi-based colleagues. There were rumours that Atishi might become the CM after Kejriwal's arrest. But the AAP chief chose to govern Delhi from behind the bars.

Highest Number Of Portfolios

AAP MLAs Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj were sworn in as ministers in the Delhi Cabinet on March 9, 2023. Following the resignations of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain — who were detained in Tihar Jail on charges of corruption and money laundering, respectively — Atishi and Bharadwaj were promoted to the Delhi Cabinet. Atishi assumed responsibility for 14 departments, while Bharadwaj was assigned the portfolios for industries, water, urban development, and health. Atishi oversees several important ministries, including public relations, water, power, PWD, finance, planning, and education.

Significant Initiatives For Education In Delhi Govt Schools

The most significant portfolio that Atishi oversees among the 14 ministries is education. The Aam Aadmi Party emphasises its education policy on a regular basis, with a focus on improving the curriculum and facilities at Delhi government schools. When Atishi was appointed to head the Delhi Ministry of Education, her standing within the party took a big leap. She had been an advisor to former education minister Manish Sisodia until April 2018. In Delhi government schools, she served as Sisodia's advisor and helped implement the 'Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum' and the 'Happiness Curriculum', which focused on students' skill development and mental health.

Hunger Strike Against Haryana Govt

Atishi continued to be the most well-known Delhi AAP politician after the Lok Sabha elections. She went on an indefinite hunger strike in June to protest against the Haryana government's failure to provide 100 million gallons of water per day, which led to a water crisis in the nation's capital. Her health worsened to the point that she had to be admitted to hospital.

Urban And Middle-Class Voter Base 

Atishi is a Rhodes Scholar and one of the most well-educated members of the Aam Aadmi Party. These credentials appeal to the middle class, and urban supporters of the party. She attended Delhi University's St. Stephen's College before going to Oxford University for higher education.

Before joining the AAP, Atishi had lived in a small Madhya Pradesh village for seven years during which she became interested in organic farming and advanced educational practices. While working with a number of nonprofit organisations there, she got in touch with a few AAP members. She became a member of the AAP in 2013, and was a significant contributor to the party's 2013 Assembly Manifesto Drafting Committee.