The Aam Aadmi Party chose former chief minister Atishi as Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly on Sunday. The Kalkaji legislator is the first woman to hold the key post in Delhi.
#WATCH | Former Delhi CM Atishi reaches Aam Aadmi Party Office in Delhi to attend the legislative party meeting. pic.twitter.com/qQmJw4MhVe
— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2025
The former Delhi chief minister was chosen as the leader during a meeting of AAP’s legislature party at the party’s headquarters in the national capital. Former chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal also attended the meeting.
#WATCH | Delhi: AAP leader Gopal Rai says, "...In the legislative party meeting today, it has been unanimously decided that Atishi will be the leader of the opposition in the Delhi Assembly...In challenging times, Atishi has served the people of Delhi as the CM...AAP will fulfil… pic.twitter.com/n5ltvaH57I
— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2025
After Kejriwal lost the Delhi Assembly election, speculations were abuzz that Atishi was likely to lead the opposition in the house. Atishi, who served as chief minister for a brief period after Kejriwal’s dramatic resignation, won the election from the Kalkaji seat defeating Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rames Bidhuri.
In the recently held assembly polls, the BJP won 48 seats in the election held for 70-member assembly. The BJP is returning to power in Delhi after 27 years. The AAP’s majority was reduced to 22 seats and key leaders of the party including Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia lost the elections.
Atishi has been in the forefront of attacking the new Rekha Gupta-led government in Delhi. The first session of the new Delhi Assembly will begin on February 24. The BJP government is planning to table the CAG reports on the AAP government’s performance during the session. The AAP is planning to counter the government’s charges against the previous AAP regime by criticising the government for going back on poll promises. Atishi has been targeting the BJP government for not implementing a monthly assistance scheme of Rs 2,500 for women in Delhi in the first cabinet meeting as promised.
Addressing reporters after being chosen as opposition leader, Atishi said she had sent CAG reports prepared during the previous AAP regime to the speaker. "As CM, I had sent the CAG report to the speaker of the Delhi assembly. These CAG reports were sent to the assembly in a sealed envelope before the elections. The BJP is trying to spread a misconception that the CAG report is being presented by them,” ANI reported.
