Tue Sep 17 07:24:10 UTC 2024: ## Atishi to be Delhi’s New Chief Minister as Kejriwal Resigns, Calls for Early Election

**New Delhi, September 17, 2024:** In a surprise move, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi has been elected as the new Chief Minister designate of Delhi, replacing Arvind Kejriwal who will tender his resignation today. Mr. Kejriwal’s decision to step down comes just two days after his release from prison, where he was detained in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

Mr. Kejriwal proposed Atishi as his replacement at a meeting of AAP legislators, where the decision was unanimously accepted. He is scheduled to meet Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena at 4:30 pm today, paving the way for Atishi’s formal appointment.

The AAP chief’s unexpected resignation is part of a calculated political gamble aimed at regaining public support ahead of early Assembly elections. He has called for the early polls to allow “the people of Delhi to decide if the AAP government is an honest government.”

Atishi, who has been with the AAP since its inception, currently holds several key portfolios including Education, PWD, Tourism and Culture. Her appointment marks a significant milestone as she will become the third woman Chief Minister of the Union Territory, after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit.

While the BJP has labelled the resignation as a “confession of his crime,” the Congress has termed it a “political drama,” calling for Mr. Kejriwal’s resignation months ago.

The focus now shifts to the upcoming elections, where the AAP will face a tough battle against the BJP and Congress. Atishi’s leadership will be crucial for the party’s success in the upcoming polls.

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