As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced his decision to quit as Chief Minister on September 15, Delhi Education Minister Atishi Marlena was appointed as the new CM today.

Delhi political circles were abuzz with intense political speculation about who could be the next face at the helm for the last two days. 

It was a million-dollar question that who will fill the sudden empty throne, with names in contention being Kejriwal's close confidantes like Atishi, Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bhardwaj and his wife Sunita.

Who is Atishi Marlena?

Atishi Marlena Singh is an MLA from Kalkaji, Delhi. She is a member of the Political Affairs Committee of AAP and currently serving as Minister of Education, P.W.D, Culture and Tourism in the Delhi government. 

The Delhi University and University of Oxford alumni entered in politics in 2013 as a key member of the Manifesto Drafting Committee of AAP for the 2013 assembly elections and played a key role in shaping up the party during its early stages.

Besides being one of the most vocal leaders of AAP, she also sought to replicate Kejriwal's model of fasting protest.

Her importance in the pecking order of leadership can be gauged from the fact that Kejriwal picked her to host the national flag at Delhi government's Independence Day programme.

She has always been at the forefront as party spokesperson, in defending the party on its flagship issues like water and electricity.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)

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