Atishi Leads Delhi Government, Vows to Bring Back Kejriwal as Chief Minister

New Delhi: On Saturday, Atishi took the oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi, alongside five other cabinet ministers, pledging to ensure that Arvind Kejriwal returns to the top post. During a press conference after the swearing-in ceremony, Atishi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring against Kejriwal, leading to his departure from the position. She expressed her deep admiration for Kejriwal, referring to him as her “guru” and the “son of Delhi,” and described the day as highly emotional, as Kejriwal would no longer serve as Chief Minister.

Reflecting on Kejriwal’s contributions, Atishi said, “It is an emotional day for me because Arvind Kejriwal is no longer the Chief Minister. He has always understood the people’s pain, ensuring free medical treatment, improving government schools, and introducing free bus rides for women.” She further urged the people of Delhi to reinstate Kejriwal as Chief Minister to continue benefiting from essential services like free electricity and water, which, she claimed, are now under threat due to BJP’s actions.

Atishi went on to accuse the BJP of filing false charges against Kejriwal, attempting to weaken him and break his spirit. Nonetheless, she emphasized that Kejriwal’s legacy of service and dedication to Delhi must continue.

The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, who administered the oath of office and secrecy to Atishi, making her Delhi’s third woman Chief Minister, following in the footsteps of Congress’s Sheila Dikshit and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj.

Atishi’s rise to the Chief Minister’s role marks her as the 17th woman in India’s history to hold the office of Chief Minister. After taking her oath at Raj Niwas, she sought blessings from Arvind Kejriwal by touching his feet, a gesture reflecting her deep respect for him. The event saw several prominent guests, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, and Police Commissioner Sanjay.

Lieutenant Governor Saxena, in his address, extended his best wishes to Atishi and her new cabinet, encouraging them to work for the welfare of the people of Delhi. Taking to social media platform X, Saxena expressed hope that the new leadership would bring positive changes to the city.

Among the ministers sworn in with Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj was the first to take the oath, followed by Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain, and Mukesh Ahlawat, the newest face in the Delhi cabinet. Atishi has retained the 13 portfolios she managed under Kejriwal’s government, including education, finance, power, revenue, and public works. After the swearing-in, Atishi quickly sent a proposal to the Lieutenant Governor regarding the allocation of responsibilities among her ministers, which was promptly approved.

While there have been no major changes in the portfolios of the ministers, Mukesh Ahlawat has been given charge of labor, SC/ST, employment, and land and building departments. Bharadwaj, in addition to his previous responsibilities, will also manage the social welfare department, holding a total of eight portfolios—the highest after Atishi. Gopal Rai has retained his roles overseeing development, general administration, environment, and forests, while Gahlot continues to manage transport, home affairs, administrative reforms, and women and child development.

Atishi’s administration now faces a challenging few months ahead, as several key projects and initiatives that had been stalled during Kejriwal’s imprisonment in the excise policy case must be restarted and completed. With Assembly polls approaching early next year, Atishi and her cabinet must work swiftly to ensure these flagship schemes are delivered on time and meet the expectations of the public.

Security arrangements for Atishi have been elevated to Z-category protection, which includes around 22 police personnel working in shifts to ensure her safety, as per Ministry of Home Affairs protocol.

The ministers who took the oath alongside Atishi also voiced their support for Kejriwal’s return as Chief Minister after the February Assembly elections. Imran Hussain stated, “The people of Delhi love Arvind Kejriwal. He was falsely framed and resigned himself. But the people are unhappy and have decided to re-elect him.” Gahlot echoed this sentiment, saying their sole “sankalp” (resolve) is to bring Kejriwal back to power.

In the meantime, the Delhi government, under Atishi’s leadership, will focus on continuing Kejriwal’s development work and ensuring the people of Delhi receive the services they have come to rely on.