Who will succeed Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister? Top contenders

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that he would step down from the top post after two days and asserted that he would return as Chief Minister only when the people give him a “certificate of honesty”.
Addressing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers, Arvind Kejriwal also ruled out his party colleague and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is also an accused in the liquor policy case, from being his successor. Kejriwal said he and Sisodia would return to their respective posts “only after people say we are honest”.
Arvind Kejriwal secured bail from the Supreme Court on Friday in the Delhi liquor policy case and walked out of Tihar Jail after spending there for nearly six months. However, as part of the bail conditions, Arvind Kejriwal cannot sign official files or visit his office. Manish Sisodia, on the other hand, got bail in the case last month after spending in prison for 17 months.
After Arvind Kejriwal’s surprise announcement, here are some of the likely contenders for the Chief Minister’s post in Delhi.
Known for her dynamic approach to policy reforms and her advocacy on social issues, Atishi was the most visible AAP leader after Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in the Delhi liquor policy case.
She has been playing a crucial role in the functioning of the Delhi government since Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and is in charge of 14 departments, the highest among Cabinet ministers. Key ministries that she looks after are Education, Finance, Planning, PWD, Water, Power and Public Relations.
Atishi has also served as the chairperson of the standing committee on education of the Delhi Assembly. Her strong oratory skills make her one of the frontrunners for the chief ministerial post.
Known for his grassroots work and extensive experience within AAP, 49-year-old Gopal Rai is a seasoned politician with a background in student activism, and has long been a key player in Delhi’s political landscape.
He is a Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and wildlife, Development and General Administration Department. He was once shot in the arm during a campaign and had been partially paralysed.
Gopal Rai is known for his deep connection with Delhi’s working-class communities. His background in labour rights and his efforts to address environmental issues resonated with a broad spectrum of voters.
His hands-on experience in dealing with the city’s pressing issues, from pollution control to labour welfare, makes him one of the contenders for the Chief Minister.
Kailash Gahlot has been a prominent figure in Delhi’s political scenario, known for his work as the Transport Minister. Under his leadership, the Delhi government made substantial strides in improving the city’s transport infrastructure, including the expansion of bus services, the introduction of electric buses, and efforts to enhance road safety.
Being a Cabinet minister, the 50-year-old AAP leader has demonstrated strong administrative capabilities and his ability to manage large-scale projects and navigate bureaucratic complexities would be beneficial for effective governance.
Being one of the seniormost leaders in the party, Kailash Gahlot could be offered the chance to become the Chief Minister.
Sunita Kejriwal, a former Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer like her husband, served in the Income Tax Department for over two decades. She was a prominent face in AAP’s Lok Sabha campaigns in Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat.
She regularly appeared at press conferences and read out Arvind Kejriwal’s messages to the people in the same chair her husband used to sit and deliver his video speeches. She also participated in Opposition INDIA bloc’s rallies in Delhi and Ranchi and frequently slammed the BJP for targeting her husband.
Being a former bureaucrat, Sunita Kejriwal has expertise in handling bureaucratic processes and understanding complex public systems that would be beneficial in managing Delhi’s multifaceted challenges.
However, her non-political background and constitutional constraints could cause hindrances to her becoming the Chief Minister. As Sunita Kejriwal is not a member of AAP, she should first join the party and contest on one of the seats and get elected as an MLA within three months if she occupies the top post.
But, given the uncertainty of Delhi’s political scenario and with Assembly elections scheduled for February 2025, it would be a challenge for the Election Commission to hold bypolls around this time. Moreover, the AAP would be wary of the Opposition’s possible attacks on the party over family-driven politics if Sunita Kejriwal gets the chief ministerial post.