Sharddha Upadhye
From Shaping Delhi’s Schools to Leading the Capital
Atishi Marlena officially became Delhi’s Chief Minister on September 21, 2024, taking over from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, who resigned earlier this week. Atishi, a long-standing member of AAP and a former education advisor, was selected as the new CM due to her transformative contributions to Delhi’s education system and public services. At 43, she is the youngest and the third woman to hold the CM office in Delhi, following leaders like Sheila Dikshit and Sushma Swaraj.
A Chevening and Rhodes Scholar, Atishi’s academic prowess has always complemented her hands-on approach to governance. She first gained attention for her role in revolutionizing Delhi’s education sector as an advisor to former Education Minister Manish Sisodia. Her initiatives, including the “Happiness Curriculum” and efforts to improve school infrastructure, were widely acclaimed. She entered the Delhi cabinet in 2023, handling critical portfolios such as Education, PWD, and Culture
Atishi’s rise to the top reflects AAP’s commitment to promoting grassroots leaders with a strong track record in public service. Her leadership comes at a time when the party is gearing up for crucial elections, and she is expected to focus on accelerating welfare policies and addressing public issues. Despite the challenges ahead, Atishi expressed deep gratitude to Arvind Kejriwal for entrusting her with this responsibility and vowed to uphold the values AAP stands for.
Her oath ceremony, held at Raj Niwas, also saw the swearing-in of five cabinet ministers, including Saurabh Bharadwaj and Gopal Rai.
Timeline of Atishi’s Political Journey
- Adviser to Manish Sisodia (2015): Atishi gained prominence as an education adviser, where she was instrumental in revamping Delhi’s public school system.
- Elected MLA (2020): She became a key AAP member, holding important portfolios such as education, finance, and public works in the Kejriwal government.
- Nominated as CM (September 2024): Atishi was unanimously selected as AAP’s Chief Ministerial candidate following Kejriwal’s resignation, making headlines as the youngest and third female Chief Minister of Delhi.
- Sworn in as CM (September 21, 2024): Her leadership officially begins with the challenge of preparing for the upcoming assembly elections in February and driving crucial welfare policies
Her leadership comes at a crucial time, with expectations that she will continue to build on the transformative policies initiated under the Kejriwal-led government. As Atishi takes office, all eyes will be on her to see how she balances the challenges of governance while maintaining her commitment to the public good.
