Atishi takes oath as Delhi CM—youngest leader to hold post
Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday, following Arvind Kejriwal's resignation earlier in the week. The updated AAP Council of Ministers includes Sultanpur Majra MLA Mukesh Ahlawat, who is a fresh addition, alongside Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Imran Hussain as ministers.
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Notably, Atishi becomes not only the third woman to hold this position but also Delhi's youngest ever Chief Minister at the age of 43. However, the tenure of the Atishi government will be brief as the assembly polls in Delhi are due in February next year.
Atishi cabinet met Kejriwal before oath-taking ceremony
Ahlawat, a first-time MLA from Sultanpur Majra, is the new face in her cabinet. Before taking the oath, Atishi and AAP leaders in her cabinet met with Kejriwal. Reports indicated that the swearing-in ceremony was a subdued affair, as the mood within the AAP remained low due to Kejriwal's recent resignation.
Atishi's unanimous appointment
Atishi was appointed as the leader of the legislature party on Tuesday, just before Kejriwal submitted his resignation to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. As a minister in Kejriwal's Cabinet, she managed 14 key portfolios, including finance, education, and revenue, and played a crucial role in maintaining governance while Kejriwal was in jail.
Kejriwal's resignation
To recall, Kejriwal announced his decision to resign last Sunday, two days after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a corruption case related to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. Kejriwal was arrested over six months ago, facing charges from both the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation for money laundering and corruption linked to the now-scrapped excise policy.
