Sun Sep 22 02:51:14 UTC 2024: ## Atishi Sworn in as Delhi’s Chief Minister in a Power Shift Amidst Legal Battles
Atishi, a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was sworn in as Delhi’s eighth chief minister on Saturday, marking a temporary change of leadership as the party’s chief Arvind Kejriwal faces legal challenges. The move, according to AAP, is designed to demonstrate public support for Kejriwal’s return after he steps down to clear his name in a “false case.”
Atishi, Delhi’s third woman chief minister, took the oath along with five ministers, including four former members of the Kejriwal cabinet – Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, Gopal Rai, and Imran Hussain. Mukesh Ahlawat, a first-time MLA and the party’s Dalit face, is the new entrant.
In her first address, Atishi emphasized the need for Kejriwal’s return, praising his work in improving public services and condemning the BJP for “implicating him in a false case.”
Kejriwal, who stepped down despite being granted bail in an excise policy case, will now seek a “certificate of honesty” from the people in an upcoming “Janta Ki Adalat” on Sunday.
The change in leadership follows Kejriwal’s six-month pre-trial incarceration, a period that saw the AAP maintain its stronghold in Delhi’s state elections but fail to make inroads at the national level.
The shift also comes amidst ongoing disagreements between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) over administrative matters, impacting the functioning of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
Atishi, who held multiple portfolios in the previous cabinet, will likely hold her first cabinet meeting on Monday and address the issue of implementing a ₹1,000 per month financial assistance scheme for eligible women in Delhi.
However, the move has been met with criticism from the opposition BJP. Vijender Gupta, leader of the opposition in the Delhi assembly, described Atishi’s ideology as “leftist” and questioned her effectiveness. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva condemned the change as a mere cosmetic shift and predicted continued corruption and chaos under Atishi’s leadership.
First Piper 