Senior AAP leader Atishi will be the new chief minister of Delhi, the party unanimously agreed on Tuesday after Arvind Kejriwal proposed her name as his successor in a meeting of the party's legislators. Kejriwal, who was released from jail on Friday, resigned from the post and would only return if people would give him a certificate of honesty. Atishi is a key face of the party as well as the government and holds multiple portfolios, including finance, education and PWD.
Swati Maliwal slammed Atishi and said that AAP leaders can say whatever they want against her, but they will have to answer for links with terrorist Afzal.
"They have appointed Atishi the CM. We welcome her but her background is questionable. Both her parents had written mercy petition for Afzal Guru to the President of India. Atishi herself supports those who try to insult India. You can imagine what would happen if such a person becomes CM," says BJP MP Manoj Tiwari.
AAP leader and the proposed CM of Delhi Atishi says, "...Today Arvind Kejriwal has submitted his resignation. This is an emotional moment for the party and the people of Delhi...At the same time, the people of Delhi are resolving to make Arvind Kejriwal the chief minister again...Till the elections are not held I will be looking after Delhi and we have a stake claim to form government."
After Kejriwal's resignation, AAP leader and proposed CM Atishi stakes claim to form the new government before Delhi LG VK Saxena.
After meeting LG Saxena, Atishi said that she has staked claim to form new govt and she will protect interests of Delhi people.
After meeting LG Saxena and presenting the claim to form the new government, Atishi said that Kejriwal was trapped in the conspiracy and people of Delhi have decided to once again elect him in next elections. On being chosen as the next CM by the legislative party, Atishi said that Arvind Kejriwal has entrusted her with a huge responsibility.
Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said that Atishi has staked claim to form a new government at the earliest.
Arvind Kejriwal left Raj Bhawan after tendering resignation to Delhi LG VK Saxena. Atishi will stake claim.
Kejriwal, along with Atishi and other senior AAP leaders, reached LG VK Saxena's residence. He will resign as CM today while Atishi will stake claim to form new government.
Arvind Kejriwal leaves his residence for the LG house. He will tender his resignation. Ministers and senior party leaders accompany him.
In a press conference, the BJP launched a scathing attack on AAP and said that changing its face will not change the reality adding that Atishi was involved in the corruption. Delhi BJP President asserted that Kejriwal has pushed Delhi towards anarchy by making Atishi CM.
According to AAP sources, all the old ministers will be given a place in Atishi's cabinet. Only 2 new MLAs will be made ministers. Out of which 1 will become minister from SC-ST quota. There can be only 7 ministers in Delhi including the CM.
Arvind Kejriwal will meet Delhi LG VK Saxena and resign as Chief Minister shortly. Atishi will stake claim to form the new government.
Delhi CM elect Atishi reaches Arvind Kejriwal's house.
AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said that it is not important who is the new CM and what is important is that Arvind Kejriwal has resigned and they have accepted it with a heavy heart. Atishi has been given responsibility for few months.
Bansuri Swaraj congratulated Atishi on appointment as CM but said that 10 years of AAP government have been unfortunate for Delhi.
Delhi Minister Aman Arora reacted to Atishi's appointment as Delhi CM and Arvind Kejriwal's resignation. He said, "Kejriwal has established a new chapter of accountability today...In a democracy the public's mandate is supreme and he has decided again to go among the public."
Delhi LG VK Saxena said, "The CM (Arvind Kejriwal) is going to meet me at 4.30 pm and he is welcome. Atishi's name has been recommended. It is a legislative process. She has been chosen by the MLAs. She is also welcome..."
BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said, "Many congratulations to Atishi for being the new CM. We will support her in the development of Delhi. We hope that she will use our experience also for the benefit of Delhi. The condition of Delhi is very bad. People don't have drinking water, the roads are broken,...our public transport system has collapsed... I hope that these problems will be solved when Atishi becomes the CM..."
According to reports, only a delegation of 5-6 people will go to LG House including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sandeep Pathak and Dilip Pandey will be there.
Atishi addresses the media for the first time after being elected as the leader of Delhi AAP legislative party, says, "Arvind Kejriwal is my guru". "First of all, I would like to thank the popular CM of Delhi, AAP national convener and my guru - Arvind Kejriwal. He gave me such a huge responsibility and trusted me for it. This can be done only in AAP, only under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, that a first-time politician becomes the CM of a state. I come from an ordinary family. Had I been in any other party, perhaps I would not have been given even an election ticket. But Arvind Kejriwal trusted me, made me an MLA and a minister and today gave me the responsibility of the CM. I am happy that Arvind Kejriwal placed such trust in me. But I am also sad because Delhi CM and my elder brother, Arvind Kejriwal is resigning today. On behalf of all AAP MLAs and the 2 crore people of Delhi that there is just one CM of Delhi - Arvind Kejriwal."
Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot said, "Everyone unanimously agreed to the name of Atishi." On 'dummy CM' allegations of the BJP, he said, "It is the job of BJP to level allegations..."
Today, a woman whose family fought a long battle to save terrorist Afzal Guru from being hanged is being made the Chief Minister of Delhi, says Swati Maliwal.
Delhi minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai said, "At 4.30 pm, CM (Arvind Kejriwal) will go to the Lt Governor to tender his resignation. After that, legislative party will stake claim to form the government."
"Today, Delhi AAP legislative party meeting was called. In the meeting, Atishi was unanimously given the responsibilities of the CM until next Delhi election. We had to give this responsibility under adverse situations. The manner in which BJP Govt at the Centre, entire BJP, PM of the country conspired and misused agencies to finish AAP. The manner in which govts in the country were toppled, similarly attempts were made to topple Delhi Govt. Thwarting all such attempts, AAP continued its unity and work. They attempted to have Arvind Kejriwal resign from the jail so that they could topple the govt. But in the interest of people of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal decided to not resign from the jail and run the govt from there...But after coming out of the jail, with his biggest strength - honesty, he did for the people of Delhi what no other state govt in Indias has done till date...After coming out, he decided to go to people's court and until the people elect him as the CM once again, he won't continue as the CM..."
Under pressure from Manish Sisodia, Kejriwal had to make Atishi the CM, claims BJP state president Virendra Sachdeva
Atishi, a key face of the party as well as the government is going to be the next chief minister of Delhi. She has held multiple portfolios, including finance, education and PWD.
AAP's National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, "Name can be of anyone(for the post of Delhi CM)...It is a matter of happiness that Delhi will get a new Chief Minister. But at the same time, we are sad that due to the conspiracies of the BJP Arvind Kejriwal has to give agni-pariksha. We all will make sure that Arvind Kejriwal returns to the Chief Minister's post as soon as possible so that the people of Delhi can continue to get whatever facilities they have been getting..."
On the new CM of Delhi, minister and AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "I have no knowledge, whether it will be someone from the council of ministers or from among the MLAs. But we will let you know. As far as I understand the politics of Arvind Kejriwal, I don't think it will be Sunita Kejriwal. She is not interested."
The session of Delhi Assembly has been called on September 26-27.
MLAs Praveen Kumar, Madan Lal, Sharad Chauhan, Virendra Kadyan, Sanjeev Jha, Kuldeep Kumar have reached CM residence.
Ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Gopal Rai, Speaker Ramniwas Goyal have reached for the meeting.
Delhi minister and AAP MLA Gopal Rai said, "Legislative party meeting has been called. CM Arvind Kejriwal has announced that unless the people support him again and make him win, he will not continue as the CM. Until then the party will choose the CM and the Government will function under the leadership of that CM...Government will be formed in Delhi under the leadership of CM Kejriwal once again..."
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar when asked about the new CM of Delhi, he said, "I have no details. Things will be decided in the legislative party meeting. Everything is decided in that meeting."
Today 57 MLAs will attend the AAP Legislative Party meeting.
Ahead of the crucial MLA meet, former deputy CM Manish Sisodia reaches CK Kejriwal's residence
With Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expected to resign later on Tuesday, AAP MLAs will hold a crucial meeting at 11.30 am at his residence to pick his successor. According to reports, the new name for CM may be announced by noon.
The AAP sources said the surprise candidate could also be a member of the minority community as the party has witnessed its support among the community wavering since the 2020 Delhi riots. In such a scenario, Delhi minister Imran Hussain may be the surprise face, they added.
Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birla, who is also the deputy speaker in the assembly, and Kondli legislator Kuldeep Kumar are also potential candidates for the CM post.
Names of Delhi ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot and Saurabh Bharadwaj are making the rounds as contenders, party insiders said and added that Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal and Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel were also probables.
On Monday, AAP held a series of meetings as Kejriwal sought feedback from members of the political affairs committee, the party's highest decision-making body, on his successor in one-on-one meetings at his official residence. He had met senior leaders, including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha, about the party's choice for chief minister.
After being released from Tihar jail on bail in the excise policy case, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that he would resign within 48 hours and sought early polls in Delhi. He vowed not to sit in the chief minister's chair till people gave him a 'certificate of honesty'.
Top News
Latest News
