In a symbolic gesture of loyalty, AAP leader Atishi assumed the role of Delhi’s Chief Minister on Monday, with an empty chair beside her—a direct nod to her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal. Atishi, the youngest Chief Minister of Delhi at 43, likened herself to Bharat from the epic Ramayana, who ruled in Lord Ram’s absence by placing his sandals on the throne.
“Today, I bear the responsibility much like Bharat did,” Atishi told the media during her swearing-in ceremony. “As he placed Lord Ram’s sandals on the throne and governed, I will lead Delhi with the same dedication for the next four months.”
Atishi emphasized her belief that Kejriwal would soon return to power, reassuring voters ahead of the upcoming elections. “This chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal, and I am confident that in the February elections, the people of Delhi will once again choose him as their Chief Minister. Until then, this chair will remain here, waiting for his return,” she added.
The ceremony, which took place on Saturday, marked Atishi’s appointment as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi and the third woman to hold the position, following Sheila Dikshit of Congress and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj. Five cabinet ministers were also sworn in, including four from the previous administration and one new face.
Atishi’s rise to the top post comes after Kejriwal’s resignation, which followed an interim bail order by the Supreme Court in the excise policy case. Despite taking on the top role, she continues to oversee 13 portfolios from the Kejriwal administration, including education, finance, revenue, power, and PWD.
