Atishi leaves Arvind Kejriwal's chair empty, takes charge as Delhi Chief Minister

Atishi took charge as Delhi Chief Minister on Monday. She left the chief minister's chair empty for Arvind Kejriwal and sat next to it on another chair.

In Short

• Atishi only the third woman Chief Minister of Delhi
• She will retain 13 portfolios she held in the Arvind Kejriwal government
• Delhi Assembly elections are slated to take place in February 2025

As AAP leader Atishi took charge as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Monday, an empty chair placed beside her own was an unabashed declaration and gesture of her allegiance to predecessor Arvind Kejriwal. Speaking to the media, the 43-year-old, Delhi’s youngest Chief Minister, even compared herself to Bharat - from the epic Ramayana - who ruled in Lord Ram’s absence by placing his sandals on the throne.

“Today, I carry the same burden as Bharat did. Just as he placed Lord Ram’s sandals on the throne and ruled, I will govern Delhi for the next four months with the same spirit,” she said.

Atishi stated that the people of Delhi would soon bring Arvind Kejriwal to power in the upcoming elections.

"This chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal, and I am certain that in the February elections, the people of Delhi will once again elect him as their Chief Minister. Until then, this chair will remain in this office, waiting for him to return," she added.

Atishi was sworn in as the eighth and the only third woman chief minister, after Congress' Sheila Dikshit and BJP's Sushma Swaraj, of Delhi on Saturday. Five cabinet ministers -- four from the previous ministry and a new face -- were also sworn in along with her.

Her name was proposed as the next Chief Minister after Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation following an interim bail order by the Supreme Court in the excise policy case.

Atishi retained 13 portfolios she held in the Kejriwal government, including education, revenue, finance, power and PWD.

BJP CRITICISES ATISHI'S GESTURE OF LEAVING EMPTY CHAIR

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva has strongly condemned Atishi's gesture of placing an empty chair beside her, reserved for Arvind Kejriwal. Sachdeva termed the act as a violation of constitutional norms and an insult to the Chief Minister's office.

In a statement, Sachdeva said, "Placing two chairs at the Chief Minister's desk is disrespect to the Constitution, the rules, and the office of the Chief Minister. This is not an act of idealism, as Atishi claims, but blatant sycophancy in clear terms."

He further criticised Atishi for disrespecting the dignity of the Chief Minister’s office and hurting the sentiments of Delhi’s citizens with this behaviour.

At 43 years old, Atishi is the youngest ever to be sworn in as the Delhi chief minister. She's also only the second woman chief minister in the country at present, alongside West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee. The tenure of her government will be brief as the Delhi Assembly elections are slated to take place in February 2025.