New Delhi, 9 February 2025: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi submitted her resignation to Lt Governor V K Saxena on Sunday, a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a heavy defeat in the assembly elections.
Officials said Atishi, who retained her Kalkaji seat, met Saxena at Raj Niwas to hand over her resignation. However, Saxena has asked her to continue as caretaker chief minister until a new government is formed.
“Hon’ble Lt Governor, Shri VK Saxena today received the resignation of Hon’ble CM, Ms Atishi. He asked her to continue in her position till the formation of the new government,” Raj Niwas posted on its official X handle.
The Lt Governor also dissolved the Delhi Assembly effective February 8. A notification issued by the assembly secretariat stated, “In exercise of the power conferred upon me by sub-section (2)(b) of section 6 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, I, Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, hereby dissolve the Seventh Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi with effect from February 8, 2025.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured 48 of the 70 assembly seats, is expected to stake claim to form the government next week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from a foreign visit, party leaders said. The AAP managed to win 22 seats, while the Congress failed to open its account in the February 5 polls.
Atishi took office in September last year after AAP convenor and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned amid corruption allegations.
Reacting to the election outcome, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said the party accepts the people’s mandate and will function as a “constructive opposition” in Delhi.
“AAP is a party that understands, recognises, and works on its mistakes. We will definitely look into the reason our vote share has reduced,” Kakkar said.
“We will play the role of a constructive opposition and will make sure that we hold the BJP accountable for the promises they have made to the people of Delhi,” she added.
