Delhi gets woman Chief Minister a decade after Sheila Dikshit | Know all about Atishi
Atishi joined AAP in 2013 and has since been a driving force behind the party’s policy development, particularly in the field of education
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi profile: Atishi Marlena Singh, a prominent figure in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has quickly ascended the ranks, becoming one of its most influential leaders. She has assumed the charge of Delhi CM, a decade after Sheila Dikshit. Her growing importance was highlighted when Arvind Kejriwal, while in jail, proposed that she hoist the national flag on his behalf at the Delhi Government's Independence Day function. However, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena nominated Minister Kailash Gahlot for the task.
Atishi currently holds significant portfolios in the Delhi Government, overseeing finance, planning, PWD, water, power, education, higher education, services, and publicity. Since joining AAP, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the party's policies and strategies. She was a key member of the manifesto drafting committee for the 2013 Assembly elections, helping to define the party's goals and vision.
Representing the Kalkaji Assembly constituency, Atishi has also been a leading voice on critical issues such as the Delhi water dispute with neighbouring states. She has taken charge of the party’s communication efforts and has been vocal in addressing day-to-day political challenges, often sparring with the BJP and the Lieutenant Governor.
Atishi’s contributions to Delhi’s education sector are particularly notable. From 2015 to 2018, she served as an advisor to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, focusing on education reforms. During this time, she played a crucial role in transforming Delhi's public schools, improving infrastructure, and implementing the "happiness" curriculum. Her efforts also included forming school management committees as part of the Right to Education Act and curbing arbitrary fee hikes in private schools.
Born on June 8, 1981, into a Punjabi-Rajput family in Delhi, Atishi was educated at prestigious institutions. She completed her schooling at Springdales School, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in History from St Stephen’s College in 2001. Later, she earned a Chevening Scholarship and completed her Master’s in History from Oxford University in 2003. Atishi joined AAP in 2013 and has since been a driving force behind the party’s policy development, particularly in the field of education.