AAP leader Atishi today officially took charge as the eighth chief minister of Delhi after Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation. Atishi kept the chair next to her vacant. She plainly said that this chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal. Atishi made a symbolic comparison from the Hindu epic Ramayana, saying that my situation is like Bharat, when Lord Shri Ram went to exile and Bharat had to rule in his absence. Atishi, 43, vowed to run the government for the next four months till the upcoming elections, just like Bharat ruled with Lord Ram’s khadaun (sandals) on the throne.
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He said that I have taken over as the Chief Minister of Delhi. Today my pain is the same as that of Bharat when Lord Rama had to go into exile for 14 years and Bharat had to take over the reins of the kingdom. Just like Bharat protected Lord Rama’s sandals for 14 years and took over the reins, I will run the Delhi government for the next four months…Arvind Kejriwal has set an example of dignity and morality.
The AAP leader said that for the last two years, the BJP has left no stone unturned to tarnish the image of Arvind Kejriwal. False cases were filed against him, he was arrested and put in jail for six months. Arvind Kejriwal has said that until the people of Delhi do not trust his honesty, he will not sit on the CM’s chair. That is why he resigned. The chair of the Chief Minister of Delhi belongs to Arvind Kejriwal. He said that I hope that the people of Delhi will again elect him as the Chief Minister of Delhi. Till then the chair will remain in this office and will wait for Arvind Kejriwal.
Atishi said that the people of Delhi will soon bring Arvind Kejriwal to power in the upcoming elections. She said that this chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal and I am sure that the people of Delhi will once again elect him as their Chief Minister in the February elections. Till then this chair will lie in this office and wait for his return. Atishi took oath on Saturday as the eighth and third woman Chief Minister of Delhi after Congress’ Sheila Dixit and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj. Along with her, five Cabinet ministers – four from the previous ministry and one new face – also took oath.
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Her name was proposed as the next Chief Minister after Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation following the Supreme Court’s interim bail order in the excise policy case. Atishi retained her 13 portfolios in the Kejriwal government, including education, revenue, finance, power and PWD. However, a new member was added to her cabinet with Mukesh Ahlawat taking oath as a cabinet minister. He got charge of Labour, SC & ST, Employment and Land & Building departments, while Gopal Rai retained the portfolios he held in the Kejriwal government.
