Why Atishi was AAP’s obvious choice to succeed Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister

Atishi Marlena Singh, the lone woman minister in the Delhi Cabinet, was on Tuesday selected for the Delhi Chief Minister’s post by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) legislators. The Kalkaji MLA, who holds the maximum portfolios in the AAP government, will take over from party chief Arvind Kejriwal with just months left for the Delhi Assembly election.
Names of several AAP leaders were doing the rounds for the top post after Arvind Kejriwal, out on jail on interim bail in connection with the liquor policy case, announced that he was stepping down from the chief minister’s post. Among these candidates were ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal’s wife.
Atishi, however, was the frontrunner for the top job as she had assumed a central role in the party after the arrest of Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case.
On March 21, Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. With his former deputy Manish Sisodia in jail as well, there was no second in command in the party and government.
Atishi took a central stand over the party chief’s arrest, and along with Saurabh Bharadwaj, led the government’s charge during the Lok Sabha elections. During this time, she had the maximum media appearances among her colleagues in Delhi, making her a household name.
Even after the general elections, Atishi remained the most visible Delhi AAP leader. In June, she sat on an indefinite hunger strike against the Haryana government for not releasing 100 million gallons per day of water, creating a water crisis in the national capital. She had to be hospitalised after her health condition deteriorated.
After Kejriwal’s arrest, there were speculations that Atishi could be made the chief minister. However, the AAP chief decided to run the government from jail.
On March 9 last year, AAP MLAs Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj were sworn in as ministers in Delhi Cabinet. Their elevation to the Delhi Cabinet came after the resignation of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who were in Tihar Jail in connection with alleged corruption and money laundering cases, respectively.
While Bharadwaj was given charge of health, urban development, water and industries portfolios, Atishi took charge of 14 departments.
Key ministries that Atishi looks after are education, finance, planning, PWD, water, power and public relations.
Among the 14 ministries, education is the most important portfolio handled by Atishi. The Aam Aadmi Party has consistently highlighted its education policy, particularly in upgrading infrastructure and curriculum in Delhi’s government schools.
Atishi being made in-charge of the education ministry elevated her status in the party significantly. She had served as the advisor to Manish Sisodia, former education minister, until April 2018, which further helped her case.
During her time as advisor to Sisodia, the ‘Happiness Curriculum’ and ‘Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum’ were introduced in Delhi government schools, focusing on students’ emotional well-being and skill development.
A Rhodes Scholar, Atishi is among the most well-educated members of the Aam Aadmi Party, which appeals to the party’s urban, middle class support base.
Atishi has a background in education, policy, and governance. She completed her education at St Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and later pursued further studies at the University of Oxford.
Before her association with AAP, Atishi spent seven years in a small village in Madhya Pradesh where she got involved in organic farming and progressive education systems. She worked with several non-profit organisations there, where she met some AAP members for the first time.
She joined the AAP at the time of its inception. A key member of the Manifesto Drafting Committee of the party for the 2013 Assembly election, Atishi played an important role in shaping the party’s policies in the early stages of formation.