Delhi is set to welcome a new Chief Minister as Atishi Marlena steps into the role, succeeding Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal, who is expected to submit his resignation soon, has named Atishi as his successor following a legislative meeting at his residence.
Atishi Marlena has been a prominent figure within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), gaining strong support from senior party leaders like Manish Sisodia. Her rise to the position of Chief Minister comes just ahead of the Delhi elections, after Kejriwal’s announcement that he would step down.
Who is Atishi Marlena?
Atishi Marlena Singh, often simply known as Atishi, has been a central figure in the AAP government, especially since the former deputy CM, Manish Sisodia, was jailed in connection to an excise policy case. She currently serves as the Minister for Education, P.W.D., Culture, and Tourism in Delhi.
Born on June 8, 1981, Atishi comes from an academic family. Her middle name “Marlena” was given by her professor parents, who blended the names of Marx and Lenin. However, in 2018, ahead of elections, Atishi decided to drop her surname and use only her first name publicly.
Atishi completed her schooling at Springdales School in Delhi and earned her bachelor’s degree in History from St. Stephen’s College in 2001. She furthered her education at Oxford University, earning a master’s in History with the help of a Chevening scholarship. She also attended Magdalen College, Oxford, as a Rhodes scholar in 2005.
Political Journey and Achievements
Atishi began her political career with the AAP in 2013, playing a key role in shaping the party’s policies. In 2019, she contested the Lok Sabha elections from East Delhi against BJP’s Gautam Gambhir but lost by a significant margin. In 2020, she won the Kalkaji constituency seat in the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, defeating the BJP candidate by over 11,000 votes.
Atishi has been a driving force in transforming Delhi’s education system. Her work on improving government school infrastructure, introducing school management committees, and curbing arbitrary fee hikes in private schools has been widely recognized. She also played a key role in launching the “happiness” curriculum to promote emotional well-being among students.
Net Worth
Atishi’s total net worth, according to her 2020 election affidavit, exceeds ₹1 crore, with no liabilities listed. As she takes on her new role as Delhi’s Chief Minister, her contributions to education and governance are set to expand even further.
Atishi’s rise marks a significant moment in Delhi politics, and all eyes are on her as she takes on this new leadership role.
