Why Atishi Was The AAP’s Clear Pick To Replace Arvind Kejriwal As CM

Atishi Marlena Singh, the sole female minister in the Delhi Cabinet and current Kalkaji MLA with the most portfolios in the AAP government, has been chosen by the party’s legislators to succeed Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister.

This decision comes as Kejriwal steps down while on interim bail related to the liquor policy case, with just months remaining before the Delhi Assembly elections. Other names considered for the role included Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Sunita Kejriwal, Kejriwal’s wife.

Atishi was the clear frontrunner for the Delhi Chief Minister position due to her prominent role in the party following the arrests of Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case. After Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21, and with Sisodia also in jail, Atishi emerged as a key figure, taking charge alongside Saurabh Bharadwaj.

She became highly visible during the Lok Sabha elections, frequently appearing in the media and solidifying her status as a leading figure in the party. Even after the general elections, Atishi continued to be the most prominent Delhi AAP leader.

In June, she went on an indefinite hunger strike to protest the Haryana government’s failure to release 100 million gallons of water per day, which led to a water crisis in the national capital. Her health deteriorated, necessitating hospitalization.

Following Kejriwal’s arrest, there were speculations about Atishi potentially becoming the chief minister, but Kejriwal chose to manage the government from jail. On March 9 of the previous year, AAP MLAs Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj were appointed as ministers in the Delhi Cabinet.

Their appointments followed the resignation of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who were imprisoned in Tihar Jail on corruption and money laundering charges, respectively.

Bharadwaj was assigned health, urban development, water, and industries portfolios, while Atishi was given responsibility for 14 departments. Key ministries under Atishi’s purview include education, finance, planning, PWD, water, power, and public relations.

Among the 14 ministries Atishi oversees, the education portfolio is the most crucial. The Aam Aadmi Party has emphasized its commitment to improving education, especially through upgrading infrastructure and curriculum in Delhi’s government schools.

Atishi’s role as education minister significantly boosted her standing within the party. Prior to this, she served as an advisor to Manish Sisodia, the former education minister, until April 2018. Her work included the introduction of the ‘Happiness Curriculum’ and the ‘Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum’ in Delhi schools, which focused on students’ emotional well-being and skill development.

A Rhodes Scholar, Atishi stands out as one of the most educated members of the Aam Aadmi Party, resonating with the party’s urban, middle-class supporters. Her educational background is robust, having studied at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and the University of Oxford.

Prior to joining AAP, Atishi spent seven years in a Madhya Pradesh village, engaging in organic farming and progressive education with non-profits, where she first encountered AAP members. Joining AAP at its inception, Atishi was a key figure in drafting the party’s 2013 election manifesto and significantly contributed to shaping its early policies.