From education reformer to becoming Delhi chief minister: The 'meteoric' rise of Atishi in politics

From being an adviser to the Delhi government to becoming a key face of the cabinet in the absence of senior AAP leaders, Chief Minister-designate Atishi's ascent in the party and government is believed to be "phenomenal" and "meteoric". The decision was taken at an AAP leaders' meeting today. Atishi, who holds the highest number of portfolios in the Delhi government, will also hold the distinction of being only the third woman after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit to become the chief minister of the national capital.

Dikshit was Delhi’s longest-serving chief minister, who held the office for 15 years from 1998 to 2013, while Swaraj's tenure lasted 52 days in 1998.

Atishi will be Delhi's youngest chief minister and is also set to become the second current woman chief minister in the country after West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee.

In her first remarks after being chosen to replace Kejriwal, she thanked him and called him her elder brother.

Crediting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), she said it was only possible here that a first-time politician could be given such a huge responsibility.

She is Delhi’s lone woman minister, and also one of the trusted aides of Kejriwal. Her elevation to chief minister comes in the wake of reshuffling within AAP, including senior leaders like Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain embroiled in legal controversies that saw both resign from their posts.

Being chosen just months short of Delhi polls, Atishi has her task cut out. She will have to hold cabinet meetings to approve and fast track key projects and policies like the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana and the Electric Vehicle 2.0 Policy among others.

Atishi has been a front face of the AAP government ever since the former deputy CM Manish Sisodia was jailed in an alleged excise policy case. In 2023, she was named to the Delhi government's Ministry of Education, PWD, Culture, and Tourism. Atishi was Sisodia's advisor from 2015 to 2018, mostly in the area of education.

Atishi, whose parents are professors Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi, gave her the middle name "Marlena" when she was born on June 8, 1981. The AAP claims that the name is a combination of Lenin and Marx.

However, just as the elections neared, the political activist decided to stop using her surname in daily life and adopt "Atishi" as her name in 2018.

Atishi graduated from Springdales School (Pusa Road), New Delhi, with a high school diploma. 2001 saw her graduate from St. Stephen's College in Delhi with a bachelor's degree in history.

The AAP leader completed her master's degree in history in 2003 at Oxford University, where she was awarded a Chevening fellowship. In 2005, Atishi studied at Oxford's Magdalen College as a Rhodes scholar.

The 43 year-old, began her political career in 2013 with the Aam Aadmi Party and played a significant role in the creation of the party's policies. She also participated in the famous Jal Satyagraha in the Madhya Pradesh district of Khandwa in 2015, and she supported AAP leader and activist Alok Agarwal during the demonstrations and the court dispute.

The Oxford University alumni faced out against Gautam Gambhir of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat in 2019. Atishi was defeated by a margin of over 4.5 lakh votes.

She was issued a ticket for the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections from the South Delhi Kalkaji seat. She won by at least 11,000 votes over Dharambir Singh of the BJP.

The educational scene in Delhi has seen a notable transition, mostly due to Atishi's efforts. Numerous studies have emphasised her critical role in enhancing Delhi government school facilities, establishing school management committees compliant with the Right to Education Act, and fortifying laws to prevent private schools from arbitrarily raising fees.

She also unveiled the ground-breaking "happiness" curriculum and the ‘entrepreneurship mindset" curriculum, which aims to improve pupils' emotional growth and general well-being.During her tenure, there was the detection of a substantial rise in expenditure on education that helped the government schools in Delhi to improve their infrastructure and facilities.

She has supported agendas that distribute free textbooks and even uniforms for learners an aspect that has greatly helped to alleviate the costs of uniforms for students hence encouraging school attendance.

In June, Atishi made headlines for her protest against the Haryana government’s water allocation to Delhi, staging an indefinite hunger strike. This crisis over Delhi’s water supply underscored her commitment to addressing key issues, and despite being hospitalized after her health deteriorated, Atishi remained determined in her cause.

Apart from her work in education, Atishi is also a strong advocate for environmental issues. She has actively promoted policies related to renewable energy, pollution control, and sustainability in Delhi.

In 2022, she addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, highlighting Delhi as a global model for urban governance.

Atishi was a founding member of AAP and played a pivotal role in shaping its policies, including as a key member of the 2013 Manifesto Drafting Committee. Known for her articulate advocacy, she has been a consistent voice for the party's principles.

She spent seven years in a Madhya Pradesh village, focusing on organic farming and progressive education. This experience played a crucial role in strengthening her dedication to political change, according to a party functionary.

Notable female chief ministers in India’s history include Mehbooba Mufti, who served as the ninth chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir; Mayawati, who served as the 18th chief minister of Uttar Pradesh; Rabri Devi, the 21st chief minister of Bihar; and Jayalalithaa, the fifth chief minister of Tamil Nadu.