NEW DELHI: Atishi on Monday formally took charge as the Delhi Chief Minister, replacing Arvind Kejriwal, who resigned earlier this month amid allegations of corruption in the liquor policy, which is scrapped now.

Drawing a parallel with Bharat’s role during Lord Rama’s exile, she pledged to lead the government for the next four months while the Chief Minister’s chair will wait for Kejriwal’s return.

“I have taken charge as the Delhi Chief Minister. Today my pain is the same as that of Bharat when Lord Rama went to exile for 14 years and Bharat had to take charge. Like Bharat kept the sandals of Lord Ram for 14 years and assumed charge, similarly, for the next four months, I will run the Delhi government like that,” she said in a statement issued after taking charge as the Delhi CM.

Atishi further highlighted the challenges faced by Arvind Kejriwal and praised his leadership and integrity.

“Arvind Kejriwal has set an example of dignity and morality. For the last two years, the BJP has left no stone unturned to malign the image of Arvind Kejriwal. False cases were put on him, he was arrested and put in jail for six months…Arvind Kejriwal has said that he will not sit on the CM’s chair until the public of Delhi shows trust in his honesty. So, he tendered his resignation, ” she said.

Atishi also kept a chair vacant for Arvind Kejriwal, declaring that it will remain in the Chief Minister’s office until his return to the position.

“The chair of the Delhi Chief Minister belongs to Arvind Kejriwal. I am hopeful that the public of Delhi will elect him again as the Delhi Chief Minister. Till that, the chair will remain in this office and wait for Arvind Kejriwal.”

Earlier this month, Arvind Kejriwal had relinquished the post of CM due to allegations of corruption in the alleged liquor policy scam.

He announced his resignation two days after being granted bail in the liquor policy case by the Supreme Court.

The AAP leader said that he was hurt by the allegations and would sit on the CM chair only after people of the national capital gave him a clean chit by giving a majority in the next Assembly elections, expected to be held in February next year.

“I resigned because I was hurt by corruption allegations. I have only earned respect, not money…I did not join politics to indulge in corruption or sit in the CM’s chair,” he said, while addressing a gathering during AAP’s ‘Janata Ki Adalat’ event at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday.

The AAP chief claimed that a conspiracy was hatched at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prove him and other AAP leaders dishonest.

“For the last ten years, we were running the government honestly, we made electricity and water free, made treatment free for people, and made education excellent…Modi ji started thinking that if he wanted to win against them, he would have to attack their honesty and then hatched a conspiracy to prove Kejriwal, Sisodia and AAP dishonest and put every leader in jail,” he added.

Atishi will hold 13 departments including previously held Education, Finance, Power, Water.

Agencies

Agencies