Atishi Marlena, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been appointed as Delhi's new Chief Minister, succeeding Arvind Kejriwal. This decision, made unanimously by party legislators, marks a watershed moment as she becomes the third woman to serve as Delhi's chief minister, following Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dixit. Atishi presently oversees education, finance, law, tourism and several other departments.
Atishi was born on 8 June 1981 to Vijay Singh and Tripta Singh, both distinguished academicians at Delhi University. Atishi's name, 'Marlena,' a mix of 'Marx' and 'Lenin,' was chosen to express her parents' political views. However, during her 2019 Lok Sabha campaign, she discarded the surname due to confusion about her religious background, as the name was incorrectly associated with Christianity.
Her education began at Springdales School in Delhi, and she went on to earn an undergraduate degree in History from St. Stephens College. Atishi's pursuit of higher education led her to Oxford University, where she received a master's degree before attending Magdalen College as a Rhodes Scholar in 2005.
Political Career
Atishi's political career began in January 2013, when she joined AAP. Her role was critical in determining the party's policies. She rose to national attention during the Jal Satyagraha in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, in 2015, when she supported activist Alok Agarwal.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Atishi ran from East Delhi but was defeated by BJP candidate Gautam Gambhir. Despite the setback, she continued to play an important position in the party. During the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, Atishi won the Kalkaji constituency, defeating BJP candidate Dharambir Singh by more than 11,000 votes.
Her involvement in the Delhi administration has been significant, with responsibilities spanning education, finance, law and tourism. She was most notably an advisor to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, focussing on educational reforms.
Contributions To Education
Atishi is stint as Minister of Education has seen significant advancements in Delhi's educational infrastructure. Her initiatives include establishing school management committees in compliance with the Right to Education Act, regulating private school fees and implementing the ‘happiness’ curriculum, which aims to improve students' emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Challenges And Controversies
In 2018, Atishi attracted criticism for her surname, ‘Marlena,’ which some saw as indicating a non-Hindu identity. The BJP's whisper campaign during the 2019 elections exacerbated things, causing Atishi to remove the surname from her public profiles and materials. This step was made to avoid electoral polarisation based on religious identification.
As the new Chief Minister of Delhi, Atishi's leadership is expected to maintain the party's emphasis on governance and development. Her appointment is a watershed moment for women in Indian politics and Delhi government.
Atishi, as a very young and first-time MLA taking on the role of Chief Minister of Delhi, has a slew of hurdles that could jeopardise her effectiveness in this high-profile office. Her lack of considerable experience as compared to veteran colleagues is a barrier to earning their support and respect, which is critical for pushing policy initiatives and navigating Delhi's complicated administrative structure.
Her experience is primarily on educational reforms, which, while noteworthy, may not adequately qualify her for the broader governance tasks necessary in Delhi's complex political environment. There is also a possibility that she would be viewed as merely a figurehead carrying out Arvind Kejriwal's objectives, which might undermine her authority and credibility.
Her interim leadership adds another layer of difficulty, as she must stabilise the administration while aggressively pursuing the party's program under close scrutiny from both the Lieutenant Governor and the Central government. This time will put her to the test in terms of balancing party directions with the demands of Delhi's varied people, requiring a combination of resilience, adaptability and strategic acumen to effectively transition and establish her role in creating Delhi's future.
Atishi Marlena's Net Worth
As per her latest affidavit, Atishi, the Chief Minister of New Delhi, has disclosed a net worth of approximately Rs 1.41 crore, with no listed liabilities. The affidavit details her assets as follows: she holds Rs 50,000 in cash, with an additional Rs 15,000 held by her spouse, totalling Rs 65,000. Her bank deposits amount to Rs 1,00,87,323, which includes both financial institutions and non-banking financial companies. Atishi has also invested Rs 18,60,500 in National Savings Schemes (NSS) and other postal savings. She also owns insurance policies with a combined value of Rs 5,00,000. The gross value of her assets is reported at Rs 1,20,12,824, with a slightly higher calculated total of Rs 1,25,12,823.
