AAP's Atishi to be the new Chief Minister of Delhi; Kejriwal proposes her name

Atishi Marlena Singh, the lone woman in Delhi’s Cabinet, has been selected by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators as the next Chief Minister of Delhi. The Kalkaji MLA, who holds the most portfolios in the AAP government, will take over from Arvind Kejriwal, just months before the Delhi Assembly election.

Following Kejriwal’s decision to step down from the CM’s post amid his interim bail in the liquor policy case, several names were floated for the top job, including Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal’s wife. Atishi emerged as the frontrunner due to her central role in the party after the arrest of both Kejriwal and his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, in connection with the case.

Atishi has been a key figure in the AAP’s leadership, particularly after Kejriwal's arrest on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate. With no second-in-command after Sisodia's arrest, Atishi stepped up to lead the government’s response during the Lok Sabha elections alongside Saurabh Bharadwaj. Her frequent media appearances made her a household name, solidifying her position as one of the most visible AAP leaders.

Atishi's leadership continued post-elections. In June, she led an indefinite hunger strike against the Haryana government for not releasing water to Delhi, highlighting her dedication to addressing the water crisis in the capital. This act of protest further cemented her position within the party.