Atishi set to become third female chief minister of Delhi
Atishi, supported by Arvind Kejriwal, was unanimously selected by AAP legislators on Tuesday to become the next Chief Minister of Delhi. The 43-year-old, who became the prominent figure of the party during various challenges, such as the incarceration of the top leaders, will now be the third female chief minister of Delhi, following Sheila Dikshit and Sushma Swaraj.
Atishi Marlena Singh, who now goes by her first name, represents Kalkaji in South Delhi as the MLA. Her journey in AAP’s political circles has been remarkable, starting off as an adviser to Manish Sisodia in the education ministry before becoming a minister and eventually being given the responsibility of handling key portfolios after the imprisonment of Arvind Kejriwal and two other leaders.
Who is Atishi Marlena Singh?
Atishi, the daughter of Delhi University professors Vijay Kumar Singh and Tripta Wahi, received her education at Springdale School in New Delhi. She pursued her education at St Stephen’s College studying history and later received a Chevening scholarship to Oxford University, where she completed her first master’s degree. Afterwards, she came back to Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship and obtained another master’s degree in Educational Research.
Before getting into politics, Atishi, along with her husband Praveen Singh, who graduated from IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad, spent seven years in a small village in Madhya Pradesh, participating in organic farming and educational projects. Her involvement with multiple non-profit organizations in the area introduced her to members of AAP, sparking the start of her political career.
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Atishi’s political journey began when she played a crucial role in the party’s Manifesto Drafting Committee for the 2013 Delhi assembly election. She rapidly emerged as a crucial influence in forming AAP’s initial policies.
She is a representative of the Kalkaji constituency and is in charge of the AAP’s East Delhi unit as a member of the Political Affairs Committee. During her tenure as an advisor to former Education Minister Manish Sisodia, her impact on the education sector was especially significant, as she was instrumental in the improvement of government schools in Delhi.
Her involvement goes beyond the field of education. Atishi has actively participated in significant political conflicts, such as organizing demonstrations against the detention of Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor scandal and voicing her opinion during the Delhi water scarcity and the Swati Maliwal attack incidents.
Since becoming a minister in March 2023, Atishi has increased her power by handling an impressive 14 portfolios, which is the highest number compared to any other minister in Delhi’s government. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal highlighted her significance by selecting her to raise the national flag at the Delhi government’s Independence Day event while he was imprisoned for a corruption charge.
Atishi’s success in Delhi’s political scene showcases her commitment, intelligence, and proficiency in both policy-making and activism.
