LIVE | Kejriwal resigns as Delhi CM, paves way for Atishi to take over
Kejriwal met Lt Governor VK Saxena and tendered his resignation as chief minister, paving the way for Atishi's appointment as his successor
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday (September 17) resigned from the post of the Delhi chief minister after proposing the name of senior AAP leader Atishi as his successor, a proposal which was unanimously accepted by the party MLAs.
The 43-year-old Atishi, who holds 14 portfolios, including finance, education and revenue, was among those holding the fort while Kejriwal was in jail. She will be the third woman chief minister of Delhi after Congress’ Sheila Dikshit and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj.
Kejriwal meets LG
Kejriwal met Lt Governor VK Saxena at Raj Niwas around 4.30 pm and tendered his resignation as chief minister, paving the way for Atishi's appointment as his successor.
After the resignation, a delegation of AAP legislators will meet the LG to stake claim for the formation of a new government led by Atishi, party leader Gopal Rai told reporters. Though Atishi was a frontrunner for the post and considered close to both Kejriwal and his second in command Manish Sisodia, the speculation over who would succeed him was intense.
Ending the debate, Kejriwal proposed the name of the Kalkaji legislator at a meeting of the AAP legislative party and it was accepted unanimously.
Surprise decision
Party leaders said the Delhi Assembly will be convened on September 26 and 27.
In a surprise decision two days after he was released on bail from Tihar Jail, Kejriwal on Sunday announced that he would resign as the chief minister and would only return if people give him a "certificate of honesty" in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls. He also sought early polls in the city.
The assembly's term ends on February 23 next year and elections are expected to be held sometime early February.
Playing crucial role
Atishi, given credit for many of the AAP government's achievements in the education sector, was inducted into the Delhi cabinet in March last year and has been playing a crucial role both in the government as well as the party when AAP convener Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case.
The daughter of Delhi University professors Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi, Atishi did her schooling from Springdales School and went on to graduate from St Stephen’s College. She did her Masters from Oxford University.
‘Political drama’
The BJP on Monday said Kejriwal's decision to resign as chief minister was borne out of compulsion and not driven by principle. The saffron party described his move as "drama" and a "confession of crime" and wondered if he had offered to quit because of infighting in AAP.
Dikshit was Delhi's longest serving chief minister of Delhi, holding office for 15 years from 1998 to 2013. Swaraj ruled Delhi for 52 days from October 12, 1998.
(With agency inputs)
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Arvind Kejriwal has reportedly handed over his resignation as the chief minister of Delhi to L-G VK Saxena. Atishi will take over as the CM.
In her first remarks after being designated the next chief minister of Delhi, senior AAP leader Atishi said she was sad that party supremo Arvind Kejriwal was resigning from the post, and added that she would work towards bringing him back as CM.
Atishi, who currently holds several portfolios in the Delhi government, said only a party like AAP would have given a “first-time politician” like her such responsibilities.
The AAP said Kejriwal proposed her name as his successor in a meeting of the party’s legislators, to which all MLAs unanimously agreed.
“I will work with one goal for the next few months to bring back Kejriwal in chief minister’s post. I will work as chief minister under Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance and protect the people of Delhi,” Atishi said addressing a press conference.
She requested her party MLAs to not congratulate her as it was a “sad occasion”.
“Kejriwal trusted me, made me an MLA, then a minister and now chief minister. I am thankful to him. A first-time politician can only get such opportunities in AAP. Had I been in some other party, I wouldn’t even have got a ticket to contest polls,” she added.
“I am happy, yet I am extremely sad that my elder brother is tendering his resignation today. Do not garland me or congratulate me as it’s a sad moment that Kejriwal is resigning as Delhi chief minister,” she said.