National News
Who is Atishi Marlena? Educational background, political career and more of Delhi’s new CM
Atishi, as she is popularly known, was named ‘Marlena’, a mix of the names of Marx and Lenin, a reflection of her ideological roots.
India Today quoted sources as saying that Arvind Kejriwal proposed her name for the top post. The other candidate being considered for the top post was Kailash Gehlot, one of the senior AAP leaders. There will be no deputy chief minister this time.
Kejriwal is expected to resign from his post at 04:30 pm after a meeting with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The development comes two days after Kejriwal announced his resignation on September 15.
Early life and education
Born on June 8, 1981, Atishi hails from an academic family in Delhi, with her parents, Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi, both professors at Delhi University.
Atishi, as she is popularly known, was given the middle name ‘Marlena’, a blend of the names Marx and Lenin, a reflection of her ideological roots. In 2018, she adopted the name Atishi in her public persona, seeking to shift the focus from her family background to her work.
Her educational journey began in Delhi, where she completed her high school education from Springdales School, Pusa Road. Atishi earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the prestigious St. Stephen’s College in 2001.
She furthered her education at the University of Oxford, earning a master’s degree in history on a Chevening Scholarship in 2003, followed by Magdalen College as a Rhodes Scholar in 2005.
Political involvement
Aatishi’s political career began in January 2013 when she joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). She played an influential role in policy making, particularly drawing from her experiences during the anti-corruption movement in India. Her activism gained prominence during the Jal Satyagraha in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh in 2015, where she supported AAP leader Alok Aggarwal during the protests and subsequent legal challenges.
In the lead-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Atishi was appointed the party’s in-charge for East Delhi. She contested the election but suffered a massive defeat, coming in third behind BJP’s Gautam Gambhir by a margin of 4.77 lakh votes.
Rise in Delhi politics
The 2020 Delhi Assembly election marked a significant moment in her political journey. Contesting from the Kalkaji constituency in South Delhi, Atishi won by a margin of 11,422 votes against BJP candidate Dharambir Singh. This victory led her to assume a prominent role within the Delhi government.
Cabinet appointment and legislative roles
Following her electoral success, Atishi was inducted into the Delhi government as a cabinet minister, filling the vacancies created by the resignations of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.
In the 2022-23 period, she served as the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and was associated with several other committees focused on women and child welfare, minority welfare, and education.
