Who is Delhi’s youngest Chief Minister Atishi? Here is timeline of her political career, biography and more

DIMAPUR — Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi took oath as Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday, days after she was elected for the top post following party supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation after being released from jail on bail in the excise policy case.

Atishi became the third woman chief minister of Delhi after Congress’ Sheila Dikshit and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj, and the youngest among the three. She also became the 17th woman Chief Minister in independent India.

Brief biography of Atishi

Born to Delhi University professors Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi on June 8, 1981 in Delhi, Atishi Marlena graduated in History from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, in 2001, before doing a master’s degree in History from Oxford University in 2003, and then a second master’s degree in Educational Research as a Rhodes Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 2005.

The 43-year-old politician is married to Praveen Singh, a researcher and educator who graduated from prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad.

She chose to go by her first name (Atishi) after she became actively involved in politics.

Timeline of Atishi’s political career

2013: Atishi joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in January 2013.

2015: She was appointed advisor to the then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also held Education portfolio. She held the position until April 2018.

2019: She contested Lok Sabha elections from the East Delhi parliamentary constituency and lost to cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir of the BJP.

2020: She contested Delhi Legislative Assembly election from Kalkaji constituency of South Delhi and defeated BJP’s Dharambir Singh.

March 7, 2023: President Droupadi Murmu appointed Atishi as a minister in the Delhi cabinet.

September 17, 2024: She was elected Chief Minister of Delhi after AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal resigned from the top post.

September 21, 2024: She was sworn in as Chief Minister of Delhi.

Portfolios currently held by the CM, as per the statement released by the CMO) on Saturday (Sep. 21, 2024): Public Works Department, Power, Education, Higher Education, Training and Technical Education, Public Relations, Revenue, Finance, Planning, Services, Vigilance, Water, Law, and all other portfolios yet to be allocated.

ALSO READ

Atishi becomes Delhi’s third woman chief minister, 17th in India’s history

Kejriwal meets LG, tenders resignation as Delhi CM

Atishi new education minister, Saurabh Bharadwaj new health minister of Delhi