Delhi CM Announcement Highlights: Arvind Kejriwal resigns, paves way for Atishi to be 3rd woman CM of national capital

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday congratulated Atishi (43) on being designated Delhi's chief minister, calling her "combative" and 'determined'.

The former UP chief minister said on hand she has to continue public service and on the other face BJP's "negative politics".

Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unanimously agreed on Atishi's name as the next chief minister of Delhi. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had proposed her name.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Tuesday claimed that Arvind Kejriwal has the "stigma of corruption" on him and was "compelled" to resign as chief minister since the top court imposed many conditions for his bail in the excise policy case.

He said Atishi, the chief minister designate, should rise to the occasion to solve the problems of the people of Delhi, particularly women.

The Aam Aadmi Party led by its chief minister designate Atishi staked claim to form a new government in Delhi on Tuesday shortly after Arvind Kejriwal resigned from the post, an effort seen as a bold gambit to seize the initiative ahead of assembly elections due in five months.

Outgoing chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who submitted his resignation letter to Lt Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday, will vacate his official bungalow in north Delhi's Civil Lines within a couple of weeks, a party functionary said.

He said after leaving his official residence, Kejriwal and his family will stay in Delhi. A search for suitable accommodation for them is underway, the party functionary said.

According to rules, Kejriwal has to vacate the official bungalow within a month of his resignation.

While announcing his decision on Sunday to resign as the chief minister of Delhi, Kejriwal accused the BJP of "mudslinging and slandering" him day and night, and asked people to decide whether he was honest or not.

"Congratulations to (Delhi CM-designate) Atishi ji but in this scuffle between BJP and AAP, people of Delhi are suffering. They are not looking out for the benefits of the national capital that is why people are not reminiscing Congress' time," Congress leader Harish Rawat told PTI.

CM-designate Atishi has handed over the letter of support from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs to the LG VK Saxena, staking claim to head the government.

Arvind Kejriwal has left for the Raj Bhawan, where he will tender his resignation from the post of Chief Minister.

Senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on Tuesday congratulated AAP leader Atishi on being chosen as the next Delhi chief minister and wished that she would effectively take on dictatorial forces and work towards a developed national capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party unanimously agreed on Tuesday that Atishi will be Delhi's new chief minister after Arvind Kejriwal proposed her name as his successor in a meeting of the party's legislators.

"Many congratulations @AtishiAAP Ji. Wish you would take effectively on dictatorial forces and work towards a developed and dynamic Dilli," Singhvi, a Rajya Sabha MP of the Congress, said in a post on X.

Senior AAP leader Atishi will be Delhi's new chief minister, the party unanimously agreed on Tuesday 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.

You can change the face but not the party's character, Delhi BJP president Virender Sachdeva said on Tuesday after the Aam Aadmi Party chose senior leader Atishi as Delhi's new chief minister.

He said the people of Delhi know that Arvind Kejriwal, who proposed her name as his successor, has looted Delhi. "They have indulged in corruption in every department and now the people will give them an answer for that corruption," Sachdeva said.

"Chehara badalane se AAP ka charitra nahi badalega (changing the face does not change AAP's character)... Considering Kejriwal's 10 years of corruption, whoever is the CM will have to tell people how they looted the people of Delhi," Sachdeva alleged.

Reacting to Swati Maliwal’s comments on Atishi’s parents, Aam Aadmi Party chief whip Dilip Pandey said that if Maliwal had any shame she would give up the Rajya Sabha seat given to her by AAP.

“If she has any shame, she should give up the Rajya Sabha seat given to her by AAP. If she wants to be a Rajya Sabha member, she should ask BJP,” he said.

Calling Atishi a “dummy CM”, AAP Rajya Sabha MLA Swati Maliwal said: “Today, a woman whose family fought a long battle to save terrorist Afzal Guru from being hanged is being made the Chief Minister of Delhi.”

Maliwal, in a post on X, said that Atishi’s parents wrote mercy petitions to the Honorable President to save terrorist Afzal Guru.

Calling Atishi a “dummy CM”, AAP Rajya Sabha MLA Swati Maliwal said: “Today, a woman whose family fought a long battle to save terrorist Afzal Guru from being hanged is being made the Chief Minister of Delhi.”

Maliwal, in a post on X, said that Atishi’s parents wrote mercy petitions to the Honorable President to save terrorist Afzal Guru.

“According to them, Afzal Guru was innocent and was framed as part of a political conspiracy. Although Atishi Marlena is just a 'dummy CM', still this issue is related to the security of the country. May God protect Delhi!," she wrote.

Atishi is set to become the new chief minister of Delhi. Commenting on the development, Union Minister Kiren Rijiu said: "The public of Delhi is very troubled by the AAP government and they are regretting it. I would blame Anna Hazare for giving a platform to Arvind Kejriwal because of which the people of Delhi are suffering. He has ruined Delhi after winning the elections by telling lies. Atishi's surname suggests she is a leftist. The family members of Atishi supported Afzal Guru and even criticized the Supreme Court...AAP has ruined Delhi and now they are ruining Punjab. The public of Delhi has made up their mind to remove AAP from power. The public of Delhi has made a big mistake by electing such anarchists. Now they are regretting"

Hours after she was picked by Arvind Kejriwal as his successor, Delhi Minister Atishi said on Tuesday she will run the government under the guidance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and thanked him for trusting her with the “biggest responsibility”. “There is only one CM of Delhi and that is Arvind Kejriwal… Our sole objective will be to make him CM again”.

Atishi is likely to meet Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena later in the day to stake a claim to form the new government. Kejriwal will also meet L-G Saxena at 4.30 pm to tender his resignation.

After the proposal for the new CM is sent to L-G Saxena, he will forward it to President Droupadi Murmu, following which Atishi will assume the charge as the Delhi CM. The oath-taking ceremony will take place in three to four days, said a government official.

AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Tuesday accused the PM of hatching a political conspiracy against Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders and trying to topple the AAP government in Delhi.

“Prime Minister Modi Ji hatched a very dirty political conspiracy and made false allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders. Sent them to jail. Questioned their integrity. Tried to topple the government,” he wrote on X.

He further said that Atishi who has been chosen by the party MLAs to become the new CM of Delhi has been tasked with two responsibilities, “1) The people of Delhi are deeply hurt by Arvind ji's resignation and Modi ji's conspiracy. Many people are crying and they want Arvind ji to become CM again. Atishi has to make Arvind Kejriwal the CM of Delhi again along with two crore people of Delhi. And second In the next few months, to trouble the people of Delhi, BJP will try its best to end the facilities given by Kejriwal ji. It is Atishi ji's responsibility to protect the people of Delhi from this terror of BJP,” he wrote.

As Delhi Minister Atishi is set to become the new CM of Delhi, she said that she would take up the responsibility up until the assembly elections are held.

“Par hum logon ka ek hi maksad hai, Kejriwal ji firse mukhyamantri bane (but our main motive is to make Arvind Kejriwal the CM once again),” she said.

She appealed to the people of Delhi and MLA, to vote for Kejriwal and make him win the upcoming polls. "I want to say this on behalf of the people of Delhi and AAP MLAs that Delhi has only one CM and that is Arvind Kejriwal." she said.

In their legislative meeting on Tuesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs elected Atishi as their leader, which effectively means she will become the new Chief Minister of Delhi. She is expected to take oath of office this evening. Here is what Atishi said in a press conference today:

-- I want to thank Delhi's popular CM, my guru Arvind Kejriwal for giving me such a huge responsibility. It can happen only in AAP that a first-time politician can become the CM.

-- I come from a normal family. If I would have been in any other party, I won't even have got a poll ticket. However, Arvind Kejriwal trusted me, made me an MLA, minister and today given me a responsibility to become the CM.

-- I am happy that Arvind Kejriwal has shown so much trust on me, but more than that I am sad because my elder brother Arvind Kejriwal is resigning today. I want to say today on behalf of AAP MLAs and two crore people of Delhi that Delhi has only one CM and his name is Arvind Kejriwal, she said.

After Atishi was elected as the leader of Delhi AAP legislative party Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot said, "Everyone unanimously agreed to the name of Atishi."

On "dummy CM" allegations of the BJP, he says, "It is the job of BJP to level allegations..."

Atishi is expected to take the oath of office at around 4:30 pm on Tuesday, following Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor.

Atishi is expected to address a press conference shortly. In their legislative meeting on Tuesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs elected Atishi as their leader, which effectively means she will become the new Chief Minister of Delhi.

Atishi is expected to take the oath of office at around 4:30 pm on Tuesday, following Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor.

On Delhi Minister Atishi to be the new Delhi CM, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, "AAP government supports a person who's family tried to stop Afzal Guru's hanging. The people of Delhi will never accept Naxal supporters. AAP wants to show that it treats women as dummies and puppets as Saurabh Bharadwaj had been saying that the new CM would be a puppet CM... The people of Delhi will give a befitting reply to this..."

Atishi initially worked as an advisor to Manish Sisodia in the Education Department. Her stint came to an end in 2018 after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs objected to the Delhi government’s appointment of 10 advisors, saying that proper procedure was not followed.

Atishi, however, continued to remain a key part of the AAP leadership, remaining the go-to person when it came to matters related to the Education Department. She was part of a group in the AAP that worked on policy and its implementation, staying away from active politics.

But all that changed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when the AAP fielded her against Gautam Gambhir of the BJP from East Delhi. She lost but a year later won when the AAP fielded her from Kalkaji for the Delhi Assembly polls.

A Rhodes scholar who studied history at Oxford University, Atishi helped shape and implement several of the changes that the government effected in the city’s schools and classrooms.

The transformation of schools went on to become one of the AAP’s key planks and something it continues to project as one of the things that sets it apart from other parties and governments.

The story of Atishi is that of a steady rise through the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ranks. That culminated on Tuesday, with the AAP deciding to appoint the 43-year-old as the next Chief Minister of Delhi, replacing Arvind Kejriwal who is set to resign later in the day.

With a woman at the helm of the Delhi government, the AAP could be looking at consolidating itself among the women’s constituency that Kejriwal has been assiduously reaching out to.

Atishi will be the third woman to hold the post of the Delhi chief minister after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dixit.

AAP leader Gopal Rai has informed that CM Arvind Kejriwal will go to the Lieutenant Governor's house to tender his resignation today at 4.30 pm on Tuesday. Atishi will also accompany CM to meet LG.

"Atishi will submit the decision of the AAP legislature to the LG today itself. We will think about the new cabinet later," said Rai.

AAP leader Gopal Rai is holding a press conference after Atishi was chosen by the AAP MLAs as their new leader. Here is what he said:

-- Attempts were made to force Arvind Kejriwal to resign from jail, hoping this would lead to the downfall of the Delhi government. However, Kejriwal remained committed to serving Delhi even from behind bars.

-- Arvind Kejriwal has consistently worked with integrity for the people of Delhi, though questions about his honesty have arisen. In light of this, we will seek the mandate of Delhi’s people. Kejriwal will only return to the Chief Minister's chair with their support.

-- We call for early elections, and until the people of Delhi cast their votes and reinstate Kejriwal as Chief Minister, Atishi will assume the role of Acting Chief Minister.

-- The BJP aims to halt the progress made by AAP in Delhi, including the closure of mohalla clinics and the quality education that children are currently receiving.

AAP leader Gopal Rai is holding a press conference after Atishi was chosen by the AAP MLAs as their new leader. Here is what he said:

"The BJP-led central government, along with the BJP party and the Prime Minister, has conspired and misused agencies to undermine and destabilize the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and disrupt the Delhi government. Despite these efforts, AAP has successfully continued its work for the people."

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva today said that Arvind Kejriwal appointed Atishi as Chief Minister under pressure.

"Arvind Kejriwal made her the CM unwillingly. He could not make the CM he wanted because of pressure from Manish Sisodia. She was also given all the departments because of Manish Sisodia. Atishi has been made the CM under his pressure. The face has changed but the corrupt character is as it is and the people of Delhi will ask for answers,” he said.

“Arvind Kejriwal wants to make a puppet/temporary person the chief minister of Delhi. He has no confidence in his party that's why he wants to make someone the CM who is weaker than him in the party. There is an internal power struggle in AAP...The public of Delhi is suffering due to this internal power struggle...In the upcoming elections, it is going to be public versus the AAP and BJP will become the medium of the public of Delhi,” said BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.

In their legislative meeting on Tuesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs elected Atishi as their leader, which effectively means she will become the new Chief Minister of Delhi.

Atishi is expected to take the oath of office at around 4:30 pm on Tuesday, following Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor.

It has been learnt that Arvind Kejriwal has proposed Atishi’s name as his successor. Atishi has been chosen as leader of the AAP Legislative Party.