New Delhi: With Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal likely to hold a meeting with his former deputy, Manish Sisodia in New Delhi today (Monday), there are growing speculations about his potential successor.
A day after Kejriwal announced his resignation as the CM, the names of many senior AAP leaders are doing the rounds for the post. According to several reports, incumbent Delhi legislators such as Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, Gopal Rai and Imran Hussain have prospects.
Sunita Kejriwal’s name not ruled out
But, experts also believe that Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, occupying the post cannot be ruled out either. Some leaders said that a Dalit leader could be appointed as the next Delhi CM, reported the Hindustan Times. However, they didn’t specify anyone’s name. But, the chances of Manish Sisodia becoming the next CM are quite bleak. Kejriwal himself has ruled out the possibility of his former deputy taking over and has confirmed that someone from the AAP will fill his position until the elections are held.
Atishi stands out
Among the front-runners for the CM post, Atishi stands out. Her management of 13 key portfolios, including education, finance, revenue and law, makes her a strong contender. In fact, Kejriwal had nominated her to hoist the tricolour on Independence Day in his place. But, his nomination was rejected by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, who appointed Gahlot for the task. Atishi has made key contributions to the Aam Admi Party. She played a vital role in drafting the manifesto of the party ahead of 2013 elections. She has been vocal about the party’s day-to-day affairs and often launched scathing attacks on the Opposition. She has also been the face of the party while addressing key issues like the Delhi water dispute with neighboring states
When will the polls take pace?
The current term of the Delhi Assembly will expire on February 11, 2025. The last assembly election in Delhi was held on February 8, 2020. In the last election, AAP had secured 62 seats and the BJP 8 seats in the 70-member assembly. Though there is time for the election, Kejriwal had challenged the Opposition to face an early poll while addressing his party workers on Sunday.