Ex-CM Atishi Chosen Leader Of Opposition In Delhi Assembly At AAP MLAs Meeting

Former CM Atishi chosen Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly at AAP MLAs' meeting, says party.

Former CM Atishi chosen Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly at AAP MLAs' meeting, says party. (PTI)

Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi was chosen as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly at a meeting of AAP MLAs here on Sunday, party leaders said. The meeting was attended by AAP supremo and former CM Arvind Kejriwal and the party's 22 MLAs, including Kalkaji legislator Atish.

This comes a day ahead of the first session of the Delhi Assembly. In the three-day session, the ruling BJP government has said that pending CAG reports against the performance of the previous AAP government will be tabled in the House. In a press conference, AAP's Delhi unit convenor Gopal Rai said by consensus all AAP MLAs have chosen Atishi as the leader of the House.

MLA from Burari, Sanjeev Jha, proposed Atishi's name as LoP and all MLAs supported the proposal, said Rai, who is also the MLA from Babarpur. Speaking at the press conference, Atishi thanked the party chief Kejriwal and all the MLAs.

"AAP will show what a strong opposition's role is in the House and will raise all issues with full force. AAP will ensure that BJP fulfils all its promise as the party in power. Specifically, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise to provide Rs 2,500 to women of the city by March 8. We promise that we will make the Rekha Gupta-led BJP government fulfill this promise."

On the expected tabling of CAG reports, Atishi said it is a routine procedure and that she had sent these reports to the House as CM. Kejriwal, in a post on X, said, "I congratulate Atishi ji for being elected as Leader of AAP in the House. AAP will play the role of constructive opposition in the interest of people of Delhi."

The BJP ousted AAP from power in Delhi, winning 48 of the 70 seats in the assembly polls held on February 5. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and several top leaders of the party, including Manish Sisodia, also lost the elections. Earlier this week, the BJP announced Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister of Delhi ending suspense over the top post. Following the thumping victory in the recently concluded Delhi Assembly polls, the saffron party stormed back to power in the national capital after over 26 years.

(With agency inputs)