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A day of deliberations later, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister and the sole woman in the seven-member Delhi Cabinet, Atishi, emerged as the frontrunner as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s successor following his decision to resign from the post, it is learnt.
Led by the AAP convener, the party’s senior leadership remained in a huddle throughout the day on Monday which concluded with discussions among members of the party’s highest decision-making body, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC). Kejriwal had, on Sunday, announced that he would step down as Chief Minister and go among the people of Delhi; he is scheduled to call on Lt-Governor V K Saxena Tuesday evening.
“The CM had one-on-one meetings with PAC members where several possibilities ranging from the naming of a Dalit CM, additions to the Council of Ministers, and the opinion of the 11-member PAC on who should succeed Arvind Kejriwal were discussed,” a senior AAP leader said.
“A Delhi MLA — neither a Rajya Sabha MP nor someone who is not part of the Delhi Cabinet such as the CM’s wife, Sunita ji, as is being speculated — will be the new Chief Minister. In addition to this, there will be two new entrants to the council of ministers tomorrow; these will include someone from the Scheduled Caste community and another MLA,” the leader also said.
The need to induct two new members in the Cabinet has arisen since Kejriwal’s resignation will create one more vacancy on the seven-member body — which has to be one-tenth of the total number of Assembly seats in the capital, that is 70 — following his stepping down.
One of the seven berths has remained vacant ever since Social Welfare Minister, and the sole SC face in the cabinet, Raaj Kumar Anand, resigned from his post as well as the party in April.
According to party sources, Atishi, who has more than 13 portfolios including revenue, education, services, vigilance, water, and the public works department among others under her charge, had emerged as a frontrunner for Kejriwal’s replacement. Other names discussed include Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, and Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, said sources.
While Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar was likely to be sworn in as a minister, sources said, the second berth may be filled by someone from the Baniya or Sikh communities. “The new CM could either be from the existing or new members of the cabinet; who it will be will become clear during the meeting of the AAP’s Legislative Party, where all MLAs will be present, scheduled for 11 am at the CM’s camp office in Civil Lines,” another leader said.
While Kejriwal, according to AAP sources, is likely to vacate his official Civil Lines residence after 10 to 15 days of handing over charge to his successor, the AAP is planning a “big public event” following his resignation.
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