Sat Sep 21 14:35:42 UTC 2024: ## Atishi Takes Oath as Delhi CM, Vows to Return Kejriwal to Power
New Delhi, September 21, 2024 – Atishi, a close confidante and former mentor of Arvind Kejriwal, was sworn in as the 8th Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday. In her first speech, Atishi lauded Kejriwal’s commitment to honesty and integrity, praising his decision to resign from the Chief Minister’s post after securing bail in the liquor policy case.
“Setting an example of honesty and integrity, Arvind Kejriwal resigned from the chief minister’s post. He said, ‘The court’s decision alone is not enough. I will go to the people’s court, and I will not return to the Chief Minister’s seat until the people of Delhi declare that I am honest’, Atishi said, praising Kejriwal’s dedication to public service.
Atishi, who served as the Deputy Chief Minister in Kejriwal’s previous cabinet, emphasized the importance of returning him to power, stating, “Today, I have taken oath as Chief Minister, but it is an emotional moment for us when Arvind Kejriwal is not the CM. Arvind Kejriwal changed the lives of people of Delhi. We all have to do just one work now – to make Arvind Kejriwal the chief minister of Delhi again.”
The swearing-in ceremony also saw the induction of five cabinet ministers, including four from the previous ministry and a new face. The new council of ministers includes Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Imran Hussain, and Mukesh Ahlawat.
The Atishi-led government is expected to have a brief tenure as assembly polls in Delhi are scheduled for February next year. The upcoming elections will likely witness a fierce battle between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP, as both parties aim to secure control of the national capital.
First Piper 