Senior AAP leader Atishi will be Delhi’s new chief minister, the party unanimously agreed after Arvind Kejriwal proposed her name as his successor in a meeting of the party’s legislators.
The 43-year-old who holds 14 portfolios, including finance, education and revenue and was amongst those holding the fort while Kejriwal was in jail, will be the third woman chief minister of Delhi after Congress’ Sheila Dikshit and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj.
Kejriwal will meet Lt Governor V K Saxena at Raj Niwas at 4.30 pm to tender his resignation as chief minister, paving the way for Atishi’s appointment as his successor.
Addressing media and quoted by ANI, AAP minister Gopal Rai said, “Today, Delhi AAP legislative party meeting was called. In the meeting, Atishi was unanimously given the responsibilities of the CM until next Delhi election. We had to give this responsibility under adverse situations. The manner in which BJP Govt at the Centre, entire BJP, PM of the country conspired and misused agencies to finish AAP. The manner in which govts in the country were toppled, similarly attempts were made to topple Delhi Govt. Thwarting all such attempts, AAP continued its unity and work. They attempted to have Arvind Kejriwal resign from the jail so that they could topple the govt. But in the interest of people of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal decided to not resign from the jail and run the govt from there…But after coming out of the jail, with his biggest strength – honesty, he did for the people of Delhi what no other state govt in Indias has done till date…After coming out, he decided to go to people’s court and until the people elect him as the CM once again, he won’t continue as the CM…”
