Atishi’s two tasks: Make Kejriwal CM again, push key schemes, says Sisodia

Following Sisodia’s arrest in the excise policy case in 2023, Atishi was picked by AAP to replace him as Cabinet minister. At 13, she held the highest portfolios.

Accusing PM Narendra Modi of “hatching a dirty political conspiracy” and putting Kejriwal and other leaders in jail under “false allegations”, Sisodia said their “integrity was questioned”.

“Today, Atishi has been given the responsibility as Chief Minister of Delhi till the elections… she has two main tasks — first, the people of Delhi are deeply hurt by Arvind ji’s resignation and PM Modi’s conspiracy… Atishi has to make Kejriwal the CM of Delhi again,” he said.

“Second, in the next few months, to trouble the people of Delhi, the BJP will try its best to end facilities provided by Kejriwal. It will try to stop free electricity… ruin schools and hospitals. It will try to stop free medicines… the work of cleaning drains and sewers. It is Atishi’s responsibility to protect the people of Delhi from the BJP’s terror. I have faith that she will fulfill these difficult responsibilities…,” he added.

In a similar vein, AAP leader Gopal Rai said: “A new government will be formed with the responsibility of protecting the work of Delhi from the conspiracies of BJP and its government.”

Addressing the media after the party nominated her for the post of CM, Atishi said, “I know the BJP will conspire against the people of Delhi through its L-G to stop free electricity, free medicines… For the next few months… I will try to protect the people and run the government under Kejriwal’s guidance.”

The new CM has her task cut out. A senior AAP leader explained, “Since Kejriwal went to jail, a lot of work — from infrastructural development of roads to public-related schemes — have come to a halt… Schemes like free and subsidised electricity have worked well for AAP in the past two elections but a majority of beneficiaries of this scheme are from the lower middle and lower class…”

The leader added, “To avoid incumbency, we need to strengthen the middle-class vote. We have to get one big project like the Mahila Samman Rashi Yojana implemented before polls and show some work to the people.”

Atishi also has to navigate the bureaucracy, with which the government has had several run-ins, more so following the amendment of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act. It also led to the creation of the three-member National Capital Civil Services Authority — which presides over transfer, posting and vigilance-related issues concerning bureaucrats.

The three-member committee is chaired by the CM and the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary are members. The last meeting was in September 2023. “Matters (in the NCCSA) can be decided with the vote of two members which can be a challenge,” said a senior official. “Matters (in NCCSA) can be decided with the vote of two members which can be a challenge,” said a senior official.

Atishi, meanwhile, has staked claim to form the new government. According to sources in the AAP, there will be no Cabinet reshuffle. “The previous ministers will remain but with Atishi becoming CM, two positions will be vacant — a reserved seat for which names of Kuldeep Kumar and Vishesh Ravi are doing the rounds. For the other one, Durgesh Pathak, Dilip Pandey and Sanjeev Jha are in the running…”