AAP leader Atishi becomes Delhi’s youngest woman Chief Minister

In a historic moment for Delhi politics, Senior AAP leader Atishi took oath on Saturday as the city’s third woman chief minister, marking her as the youngest to hold this prestigious position.

She also becomes the 17th woman to serve as a chief minister in independent India.

Atishi’s tenure is expected to be short-lived, with assembly elections scheduled for February. Despite being a first-time legislator, she has emerged as a prominent face of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), notably managing party operations during Arvind Kejriwal’s recent incarceration related to the excise policy case.

Her appointment follows a recommendation from Kejriwal, who resigned from the chief ministership, paving the way for Atishi’s rise. She joins the ranks of former chief ministers Sushma Swaraj from the BJP and Sheila Dikshit from the Congress, both of whom previously held the office.

At 43 years old, Atishi stands out as Delhi’s youngest woman chief minister, significantly younger than her predecessors—Dikshit assumed office at 60, while Swaraj was 46.

Currently, she is only the second woman chief minister in India, alongside West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee.

(With inputs from agency)