'Will Wait for Kejriwal to Come Back': Atishi Takes Charge as Delhi Chief Minister

New Delhi: Aam Ami Party (AAP) leer Atishi Singh officially assumed post of Delhi Chief Minister, replacing Arvind Kejriwal, on Monday. After Kejriwal stepped down from top post, Atishi was sworn in as eighth CM of Delhi. With Atishi swearing-in, Delhi got its third woman Chief minister after Congress ' Sheila Dikshit and BJP's Sushma Swaraj. Five cabinet ministers -- four from previous ministry and a new face -- were also sworn in along with her.

dressing a press conference on Monday, Atishi hailed erstwhile Kejriwal-led govt for "setting an example of dignity and morality."

Atishi said , "I have taken charge as Delhi Chief Minister. Today my pain is same as that was of Bharat when Lord Ram went to exile for 14 years and Bharat h to take charge. Like Bharat kept sandals of Lord Ram for 14 years and assumed charge, similarly, for next four months, I will run Delhi government like that... Arvind Kejriwal has set an example of dignity and morality."

She also accused BJP to attempting to tarnish image of former CM Kejriwal. "For last two years, BJP has left no stone unturned to malign image of Arvind Kejriwal . False cases were put on him, he was arrested and put in jail for six months...Arvind Kejriwal has said that he will not sit on CM's chair until public of Delhi shows trust in his honesty. So, he tendered his resignation," she ded.

Hoping that Delhiites would re-elect Kejriwal in assembly elections, she reaffirmed that Delhi CM's chair belonged to AAP supremo. " chair of Delhi Chief Minister belongs to Arvind Kejriwal . I am hopeful that public of Delhi will elect him again as Delhi Chief Minister. Till that, chair will remain in this office and wait for Arvind Kejriwal," she furr said. 

Notably, Kejriwal himself proposed her name for next Chief Minister after he announced his resignation which left several political leers off guard. 

Atishi has retained 13 key portfolios that she held in erstwhile Kejriwal government, including education, revenue, finance, power and PWD. However, new AAP cabinet witnessed entry of a new face, Mukesh Ahlawat, who took oath as a cabinet minister. He was given charge of labour, SC and ST, employment and land and building departments, while Gopal Rai retained portfolios that he held in Kejriwal government.

Atishi is Youngest CM of Delhi

She also holds distinction of being youngest CM of Delhi at 43. She's also only second woman chief minister in country at present, alongside West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee . tenure of her government will only be four months long as national capital is bracing for assembly elections in February 2025.