AAP’s BIG Gamble: Atishi's Rise As Delhi Chief Minister - A Masterstroke Or Political Risk?

Why has the Aam Aadmi Party nominated Atishi Marlena as the next Delhi Chief Minister ignoring stalwarts like Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, its OBC face Gopal Rai, and Dalit leader Rakhi Birla? Will she prove a master stroke by the party or a lame duck?  Why is the BJP targeting the Oxford University graduate and projecting her elevation as yet another political stunt of Arvind Kejriwal?

Why Has AAP Gambled On Atishi Marlena?

Shocking the entire country, including his own supporters and party members, soon after coming out of the Tihar Jail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced to quit after two days, the next working day. With this, he also raised the question of who will replace him. Though it appears to be an insignificant issue because the Delhi Assembly Election is scheduled for February 2025, it has gained disproportionate importance considering how it will impact the forthcoming elections.

Woman With 13 Portfolios

Oxford University graduate Atishi Marlena is leading the race for the person who will take the mantle from the person who changed the politics of Delhi way back in 2013. Though all the important leaders including the woman with 13 portfolios are tight-lipped over the issue, certain formulas for selecting the next Chief Minister have come out and that shows the lady leading the race.

Stalwarts Sidelined

The names that were floated by a section of media immediately after Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement include Sanjay Singh, Minister Gopal Rai, who could provide stability, and Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj. Transport & Environment Minister Kailash Gehlot was another potential candidate. Delhi CM's wife Sunita Kejriwal was also considered to be in the race.

Sunita Kejriwal was ruled out because she is not from Delhi, not an MLA as well. Besides, making her the chief minister would have handed over the weapon to the BJP and the saffron party would have come down upon the AAP heavily lambasting it for promoting nepotism. It would have slammed Kejriwal for promoting his own family.

AAP’s Move To Confront BJP

By proposing the name of Atishi Marlena, Arvind Kejriwal has made a smart move and countered the saffron party. It has taken the wind out of the sail of the BJP by nominating someone who has made her presence felt by good governance.

Arvind Kejriwal made his intention clear when he wanted Atishi to hoist the flag on the Independence Day celebration as he was in the Tihar jail and was not allowed to come out.

The AAP has put the BJP and the Congress in an uncomfortable position by nominating Atishi. She is a woman and the saffron party will find it difficult to attack her. She has not been accused in any corruption case, not in the infamous Delhi liquor scam that the BJP has used to attack the ruling party in Delhi.

Woman-Centric Schemes

The Arvind Kejriwal Government made provisions for a new women's welfare scheme in the Delhi Government Budget 2024. Called the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, every woman resident of Delhi will get Rs. 1,000 monthly under this scheme. Now, with Atishi Marlena at the helm of the affairs, the AAP may very soon issue notification for this scheme and the BJP will find it difficult to oppose it. Though opposition from Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena cannot be ruled out, he too may find it difficult to stall it. If he does so, it will give the AAP another weapon to attack the L-G, the union government and the BJP.

Why BJP Cannot Attack Atishi

It will also be difficult for the saffron party to attack Atishi Marlena considering her performance in the education department and the reforms that she carried out as the in-charge of the concerned ministry. Earlier, she worked under Manish Sisodia as his advisor when he was the Education Minister of Delhi. Serving as an advisor to Sisodia, she introduced the 'Happiness Curriculum' and 'Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum' in Delhi government schools. These programmes focused on students' emotional well-being and skill development. After Sisodia was jailed, Atishi took the mantle.

Atishi Marlena handled more than 13 portfolios including education, finance, planning, PWD, water, power, and public relations. Her performance in these departments has been so stellar that the BJP will it difficult to attack the Oxford University graduate. Besides, the AAP also has the luxury of saying that the union government and its appointee Luietenant Governor VK Saxena keep on putting hindrances in the way of the government.

Atishi is a masterstroke and the BJP will find it difficult to hit her. This is the success of the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal.