NEW DELHI: Indian opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal picked Delhi minister Atishi to replace him as chief minister of the capital territory on Tuesday, allowing him to focus on winning a fresh mandate in elections due next year after getting bail in a graft case.
Atishi, 43, who uses only one name, is a founding member of the decade-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that rose to national prominence after emerging out of an anti-corruption movement led by Kejriwal, a fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She has been a leading face of AAP and the Delhi government after Kejriwal, 56, was arrested and detained in prison in March in a corruption case he calls “politically motivated”.
“While this responsibility lies with me, I will protect the people of Delhi and run the government under Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance,” Atishi told reporters.
Kejriwal was granted bail on Friday by India’s Supreme Court, almost six months after being detained in connection with alleged corruption in the capital city’s liquor sales policy. Kejriwal and AAP deny the allegations. –Agencies
