‘This is Arvind Kejriwal’s chair’: Atishi takes charge as Delhi CM with an empty chair beside her

Atishi took charge as new CM o Delhi with an empty chair besides her, says this chair is reserved for Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi took charge as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi on Monday (September 23, 2024) after taking the oath of office on Saturday (September 21, 2024). Refusing to sit on the chair used by her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal, Ms. Atishi chose to sit on a different chair. “This is Delhi’s Chief Minister’s chair, this chair, is Arvind Kejriwal ji’s,“ she said after taking charge at the Delhi Secretariat.

The third and the youngest woman Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms. Atishi has retained the 13 portfolios she held in the Kejriwal government, including those of education, revenue, finance, power and PWD.

“I have full faith that in the election which is due in February, the people of Delhi will elect Arvind Kejriwal ji as Chief Minister again. Till then this chair will be in this room, in expectation of Arvind Kejriwal ji,” she said.

In her first interaction with the media, after being announced as the next CM, in the last week, she had called Mr. Kejriwal her “guru”. She said the media, “there is only one Chief Minister of Delhi and the CM’s name is Arvind Kejriwal”.

She had also underlined that she will be the Chief Minister only for a few months till the next Assembly election and making Mr. Kejriwal the CM again is her and the party’s only intention.

“I will work for four months as the chief minister of Delhi as Bharat did by keeping Lord Ram’s Khadaun on the throne. Arvind Kejriwal has set an example of dignity in politics by stepping down. The BJP left no stone unturned to tarnish his image,” she said after taking charge.

Saurabh Bharadwaj has eight departments under him, the highest after Atishi, including those of health, tourism, art and culture. New entrant Mukesh Ahlawat has a portfolio of labour, SC and ST, employment and land and building departments.