Atishi to be sworn in as Delhi’s Chief Minister at 4:30 pm today

The ceremony will take place at Raj Niwas and will see the swearing-in of five other ministers alongside her.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi is set to be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Delhi at around 4:30 PM today, September 21. The ceremony will be held at Raj Niwas and is expected to be a modest event following the resignation of her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal. This marks a significant political shift in the capital.

The ceremony will take place at Raj Niwas and will see the swearing-in of five other ministers alongside her. This event, described as a "low-key affair" due to the circumstances surrounding Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation, was moved up from its initial scheduling for a special Assembly session later in the month at the request of Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena.

Atishi, who represents the Kalkaji constituency and is currently the only woman minister in the Delhi cabinet, was unanimously chosen by AAP legislators to succeed Kejriwal after his resignation on September 17. Kejriwal stepped down following his release on bail from the Supreme Court in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, stating that he wanted to clear his name in the public eye.

Joining Atishi in the new cabinet are AAP leaders Mukesh Ahlawat, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gehlot, Saurabh Bhardwaj, and Imran Hussain. The new ministers are expected to retain their previous portfolios, while Ahlawat may receive departments left vacant by former minister Raaj Kumar Anand.

With Delhi Assembly elections slated for February 2025, Atishi’s tenure as Chief Minister is expected to focus on fast-tracking key pending policies, such as the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0.

(With inputs from agencies)