Delhi Minister Atishi to step into Kejriwal's shoes after being named his successor

Delhi minister Atishi Marlena has been chosen by Arvind Kejriwal to replace him as Chief Minister after he tendered his resignation on Sep 17.

The decision was taken at an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators' meeting with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

Kejriwal's decision was backed by all AAP members after party leader Dilip Pandey proposed that he decide on the Chief Minister face, according to sources cited by media.

Atishi currently holds important portfolios in the Delhi government such as Education and Public Works Department.

The 43-year-old leader is an Oxford University graduate and a Rhodes scholar. She has worked extensively for the party and greatly contributed to restructuring Delhi's education system.

She is the MLA from Kalkaji and became a minister after senior party leader and former deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested in a corruption case linked to Delhi's now-scrapped liquor policy.

In the absence of Kejriwal and Sisodia, Atishi had strongly represented the party's position at various events and media exchanges.

The Supreme Court granted bail to Kejriwal in the corruption case linked to Delhi's now-scrapped liquor policy on Sep 13, nearly six months after he was arrested. Following his bail, the former Delhi CM announced his resignation on Sep 15.

Addressing a gathering of party workers, the Delhi Chief Minister said, “Two days later, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not sit on that chair till the people announce their verdict. Elections in Delhi are months away. I got justice from the legal court, now I will get justice from the people's court. I will sit on the Chief Minister's chair only after the order of the people.”

He also called for early polls, adding, that he would only take up the top job if he is re-elected by the people of Delhi.

Assembly polls in the national capital are scheduled for February, but Kejriwal has demanded that they be held in November along with the Maharashtra election.

Both Sisodia and Kejriwal have clarified that they would not seek people's support and not assume the top roles before the people's verdict.