Delhi Minister Atishi and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders have said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not resign from his post and will not run his government from jail if necessary. Kejriwal, who was arrested on Thursday in the excise policy case, will remain in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till March 28.
Watch live updates on news related to Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest here
Now, in the absence of AAP’s national convenor – a post Kejriwal holds, the party may need a new leader to deal with the current situation within the party and in the Delhi government. Although AAP leaders are denying any kind of change, there is speculation that Delhi Finance Minister Atishi may take charge of the party in the coming days.
Also read: After ED arrested Arvind Kejriwal in money laundering case, AAP said, ‘CM has been arrested’
Apart from Atishi, Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita is also in the headlines. However, netizens have flocked to social media to opine on whether Atishi will be appointed as the new CM after Kejriwal’s arrest.
“Looks like Delhi has got a new boss: Atishi Marlena takes over as CM after Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘arrest’,” one posted on social media. While some said, “Atishi can forget it, Sunita Kejriwal will take over administration from Arvind Kejriwal.”
As social media users continue the discussion, here’s what you need to know about Atishi:
Atishi’s early years
Atishi was born to Delhi University professor Vijay Kumar Singh and Tripta Wahi. He did his schooling from Springdale School, New Delhi. He studied history at St Stephen’s College and a master’s degree at the University of Oxford on a Chevening scholarship. A few years later, he earned a second master’s degree from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar in Educational Research.
Also read: Arvind Kejriwal arrested. Will he resign from the post of Chief Minister of Delhi? Atishi says this
AAP describes Atishi as a “committed worker”. She spent seven years in a small village in Madhya Pradesh where she became involved in organic farming and progressive education systems. She worked with several non-profit organizations there, where she met some AAP members for the first time.
political career
Atishi had joined the Aam Aadmi Party at the time of its establishment. She was a key member of the party’s manifesto drafting committee for the 2013 assembly elections. The AAP says he played an important role in “shaping the party’s policies in the early stages of its formation”. Atishi registered his presence as AAP spokesperson.
Atishi represents the Kalkaji constituency of Delhi. She is a member of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of AAP. He has been made in-charge of East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency unit.
According to his profile on the AAP website, Atishi had worked as an advisor to then education minister Manish Sisodia until April 2018. “He played an important role in improving the condition of education in government schools in the national capital,” the party says.
Currently, he is one of the prominent AAP leaders leading the protests against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.
Atishi became Delhi’s minister
Atishi Marlena is an AAP leader and was sworn in as a minister in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government on March 9, 2023, after the cabinet reshuffle. She is the only woman minister in the Delhi Cabinet and holds the highest number of portfolios.
He is the Minister of Finance, Water, Education, Public Works Department, Power, Revenue, Law, Planning, Services, Information and Publicity and Vigilance.
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Published: March 23, 2024, 05:23 PM IST
