Atishi Becomes New Delhi Chief Minister, Congress and BJP React
New Delhi, India – On September 22, Atishi took oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. She was named as the successor by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal earlier in the week. In an emotional gesture, Atishi placed an empty chair beside her, symbolizing Kejriwal’s presence.
Congress Criticizes AAP and BJP
Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed expressed her concerns about the current state of governance in Delhi. She highlighted issues such as flooding, garbage management, and inconsistent electricity supply. Shama emphasized that during the Congress rule, there were no conflicts with the central government, unlike the ongoing disputes between AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Shama stated, “As a resident of Delhi, she (Atishi) has to understand my pain of what we go through when the roads are flooded, where I was almost going to get electrocuted. I want her to answer that. I want her to answer about the garbage in South Delhi and what the MCD is doing. I want to ask her why electricity is going on and off these days, which never happened during the Sheila Dikshit regime.”
BJP’s Reaction
BJP National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla compared Atishi to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling her a “proxy CM.” He criticized the manner in which the CM’s chair was kept unoccupied, suggesting that Atishi would be controlled by Kejriwal.
Poonawalla remarked, “Today, Delhi has received its new Manmohan Singh. The manner in which CM’s chair was kept unoccupied, people of Delhi had also received ‘missing in action CM’ similarly. They first received a ‘jail wala CM’, then a ‘bail wala’ CM who had no power or rights left after the Supreme Court’s conditions. Today, they received a ‘proxy CM’, i.e., Manmohan Singh…”
Background
Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister on September 17 after being released on bail from Tihar jail in the excise policy case. He stated that the allegations against him had affected him deeply, leading to his decision to step down.
Doubts Revealed
Atishi -: Atishi is a politician from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who has become the new Chief Minister of Delhi.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state, similar to a principal in a school but for the whole state.
Congress -: Congress is one of the major political parties in India, known for its long history and role in India’s independence.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, another major political party in India, known for its focus on Hindu nationalism.
Arvind Kejriwal -: Arvind Kejriwal is a politician who was the Chief Minister of Delhi before Atishi. He is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Shama Mohamed -: Shama Mohamed is a spokesperson for the Congress party, which means she talks to the public and media on behalf of the party.
Shehzad Poonawalla -: Shehzad Poonawalla is a spokesperson for the BJP, meaning he represents the party in public discussions and media.
proxy CM -: A ‘proxy CM’ means someone who is seen as a stand-in or substitute for the real leader, like a substitute teacher.
Manmohan Singh -: Manmohan Singh is a former Prime Minister of India, known for his work in economics and being a quiet leader.
bail -: Bail is a temporary release from jail, usually given when someone promises to return for their trial in court.