Atishi resigns as Delhi CM Hectic parleys in BJP over CM face

 

 

DELHI Chief Minister Atishi handed over her resignation to Lt Governor V K Saxena on Sunday, a day after her Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a crushing defeat in the Assembly polls. Atishi, who retained her Kalkaji seat, handed over her resignation to Saxena at Raj Niwas, officials said. The LG’s office said that Saxena has asked the outgoing CM to continue on the post till formation of a new Government.

 

The BJP is expected to stake claim to power next week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from a foreign visit, party leaders said. After the party’s historic victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, BJP leaders, including winning candidates and party officials, have begun crucial meetings to discuss the next steps for the capital’s governance. Kailash Gahlot, the victorious BJP candidate from the Bijwasan constituency, arrived at the LG’s House, stating, “I am here only for a courtesy meeting with the LG.” Similarly, Parvesh Verma, the BJP winner from the New Delhi constituency, also paid a visit to the LG’s residence. In a parallel development, BJP MP Anurag Thakur arrived in Lucknow at the BJP office to engage in party discussions related to the Delhi elections. Earlier in the day, a significant meeting was held at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where key decisions regarding the future of Delhi’s governance were discussed.

 

Union Minister and BJP President J P Nadda also attended the meeting. One of the most anticipated decisions remains the identity of the Chief Ministerial face for Delhi, a question that has captured the public’s attention. The party is yet to announce the CM face officially, and people are eagerly awaiting the announcement. While visible faces such as Parvesh Verma, a leader from the Jat community who defeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, and seasoned organisational leaders like Satish Upadhyay, Vijender Gupta, Ashish Sood and Pawan Sharma are being talked about, the BJP has a history of elevating leaders with a relatively low public profile.

 

The LG dissolved the Delhi Assembly effective from Saturday, February 8. A notification by the Assembly Secretariat issued a day before read, “In exercise of the power conferred upon me by sub-section (2)(b) of section 6 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, I, Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, hereby dissolve the Seventh Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi with effect from February 8, 2025.”