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AAP Names Atishi As Next Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal Resigns

Members of the Aam Aadmi Party have accepted Arvind Kejriwal's proposal for Atishi to become the next chief minister of Delhi. The AAP Supremo tendered his resignation today.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with state Cabinet Minister Atishi
AAP Names Atishi As Next Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal Resigns | Photo: PTI
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Two days after announcing his plans to step down, Arvind Kejriwal proposed Atishi as the pick for Chief Minister and later resigned from the post on Tuesday. Following the legislative meeting of all Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, Atishi Marlena Singh was chosen as Kejriwal's replacement for the post of Chief Minister.

Atishi is currently serving as the Minister of Education, PWD and Culture and Tourism in the Delhi Government. The Oxford University alumnus and a Rhodes scholar was also accepted as the leader of the legislative assembly.

Addressing the media for the first time since her nomination, the Delhi Minister stated that AAP will work towards ensuring Kejriwal is the Chief Minister once again.

"People of Delhi, AAP MLAs and I - as the CM for a few months till elections, will work with just one goal. We have to make Arvind Kejriwal the CM of Delhi once again. As long as I am shouldering this huge responsibility, I will have just one goal...I will try to protect the people of Delhi and run the Government under the guidance of Arvind Kejriwal."

After getting bail from the Supreme Court in the CBI case against him on the excise policy scam, Arvind Kejriwal announced he would be stepping down from the position of Delhi Chief Minister.

Ahead of his resignation, members of the Aam Aadmi Party have accepted Arvind Kejriwal's proposal for Atishi to become the next chief minister of Delhi. The AAP Supremo will tender his resignation today.

With the CM pick now decided, Arvind Kejriwal is expected to meet with Lt Governor VK Saxena around 4:30 PM on Tuesday to tender his resignation.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested once again by the CBI regarding his involvement in the Delhi liquor policy scam. However, last week, the Supreme Court of India granted the AAP leader bail.

Days after walking out of Tihar Jail, the AAP Supremo announced that he will resign in two days and called for early elections in the National Capital.

Kejriwal further stated that he would not return as Chief Minister of Delhi until people gave him a "certificate of honesty".

"I am going to resign after two days and ask people whether I am honest. Till they respond, I won’t sit on CM’s chair… I will only sit on CM’s chair after people give me a certificate of honesty. I want to give ‘agnipariksha’ (trial by fire) after coming out of jail," said Kejriwal.