Atishi signs documents after taking oath as Chief Minister of Delhi during a ceremony at Raj Bhavan, in New Delhi, Saturday
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Atishi was sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister along with five ministers on Saturday in a low-key function at the Lieutenant Governor’s office, days after Arvind Kejriwal resigned from the top post in a political move aimed at regaining ruling AAP’s perceived sliding fortunes.
She is the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi, besides being the youngest to occupy the post.
Atishi and ministers – Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain and Mukesh Ahlawat in this order – were administered oath of office and secrecy by L-G VK Saxena at Raj Niwas. Ahlawat is the only new face, while others were part of the previous Kejriwal government.
Sources said that Atishi will be holding 13 ministries, including the crucial Finance, Power, Water and Education portfolios, while Bharadwaj, who is deemed to be No. 2 in the cabinet, will have eight ministries under him, including Urban Development, Health and Irrigation.
There are no changes in the portfolios of Rai, Gahlot and Hussain, while Ahlawat, the new face, has been assigned SC and ST, Labour, Employment, Land and Building and Gurudwara elections. A proposal on portfolios has been sent for L-G's clearance.
The new Cabinet has its tasks cut out with just five months left for Assembly polls and will have to roll out Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0 and doorstep delivery of services among others.
Atishi's academician-parents Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi were present at the function, which also saw in attendance former Chief Minister Kejriwal, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra among others.
Soon after her swearing-in, Atishi told a press conference, "It is an emotional moment for me as he (Kejriwal) will not be the chief minister. He understood the pain of every person. He ensured free treatment for people, worked to improve the lives of the students of government schools, and brought the provision of free bus rides for women. The BJP implicated him in a false case and did everything to break him."
All the six leaders had visited Kejriwal before the swearing-in ceremony. The Delhi Cabinet can have seven ministers and the AAP could induct one more if decided at a later date.
President Droupadi Murmu had on Friday appointed Atishi as Delhi Chief Minister from the date of her being sworn-in while accepting Kejriwal's resignation. She also cleared the proposal to appoint five ministers.
Kejriwal resigned as the Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday, after which Atishi staked claim to form a new government in the national capital. Earlier in March 2023 when Manish Sisodia as Deputy Chief Minister had quit after his arrest, Atishi and Bharadwaj were inducted into the Kejriwal Cabinet.
“Working for the public is our priority and the people of Delhi have elected us to work. The change in government has happened due to special circumstances and our aim is to take forward the pending work in these remaining months. Kejriwal-ji has decided to go to the people's court and our mission is to make him the Chief Minister again,” Rai told reporters.