The Aryavarth Express
NEW DELHI: In her first remarks after being designated the next chief minister of Delhi, senior AAP leader Atishi on Tuesday said she was sad that party supremo Arvind Kejriwal was resigning from the post and added that she will work towards bringing him back as CM.
Atishi, who currently holds several portfolios in the Delhi government, said only a party like the Aam Aadmi Party would have given a “first-time politician” like her such responsibilities.
The Aam Aadmi Party said Kejriwal proposed her name as his successor in a meeting of the party’s legislators, to which all MLAs unanimously agreed.
“I will work with one goal for the next few months to bring back Kejriwal to the chief minister’s post. I will work as chief minister under Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance and protect the people of Delhi,” Atishi said, addressing a press conference.
She requested her party MLAs not to congratulate her as it was a “sad occasion.”.
“Kejriwal trusted me, made me an MLA, then a minister, and now chief minister. I am thankful to him. A first-time politician can only get such opportunities in AAP. Had I been in some other party, I wouldn’t even have gotten a ticket to contest polls,” she added.
“I am happy, yet I am extremely sad that my elder brother is tendering his resignation today. Do not garland me or congratulate me, as it’s a sad moment that Kejriwal is resigning as Delhi chief minister,” she said.
Atishi added that people are quite angry about Kejriwal’s resignation.
Kejriwal will meet Lt Governor V K Saxena at Raj Niwas at 4.30 pm to tender his resignation as chief minister, paving the way for Atishi’s appointment as his successor.
Atishi said his resignation was unparalleled in the country’s history and added that she will work for the next few months with the goal of bringing back Kejriwal as chief minister.
Atishi will be the third woman chief minister of Delhi after Congress’ Sheila Dikshit and the BJP’s Sushma Swaraj.
Atishi said the Supreme Court’s bail to Kejriwal was a slap in the face of the Centre, whose probe agencies were called “caged parrots” by it.
The ED and CBI have been used by the BJP-led central government to target him, she alleged.
Kejriwal was recently granted bail by the SC in the excise policy-linked corruption case.