- By Priyanka Koul
- Wed, 11 Dec 2024 07:58 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
List of Delhi Chief Ministers: The national capital of Delhi is set to hold Assembly elections in February next year. The Delhi Assembly election 2025 will be a litmus test for the Aam Aadmi Party and its leader Arvind Kejriwal, who seeks to return to power for a consecutive fourth term. With the Delhi Assembly elections just around the corner, the elections are expected to be interesting this time, given the absurd political dynamics in the capital region.
On September 15, Arvind Kejriwal, the former Chief Minister of Delhi, announced his resignation amid the ongoing Delhi exercise policy case and frequent in-and-out trips to jail. Delhi's Education Minister, Atishi, a prominent AAP leader, was appointed as the new Interim Delhi Chief Minister. Kejriwal stated that he would only accept the post again if the people certify his honesty in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, Delhi has had a number of Chief Ministers since it became a state, each with their own vision for the city. From Congress to BJP to AAP, different parties have led the capital through changing times. In 1952, Delhi held its first state assembly elections, and Chaudhary Brahm Prakash from the Indian National Congress was elected as the first Chief Minister (CM). Since then, Delhi has continued to elect a new CM every five years through state elections. Notably, Sheila Dikshit was the longest-serving CM, contributing to Delhi's development and governance.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the list of Chief Ministers of Delhi, their political parties, and how long they've served in office, right up to 2024.
Complete List Delhi Chief Ministers with Party Names and Their Tenure
1. Chaudhary Brahm Prakash was born in 1918 in Nairobi, Kenya. He became the first Chief Minister of Delhi on March 17, 1952, at the age of 34, and served until February 12, 1955. He was elected from the Nangloi Jat constituency and was associated with the Indian National Congress (INC). As an active participant in the Indian independence movement, he focused on rural development and social justice during his term. He was also a Union Cabinet Minister and was honored with a commemorative postal stamp in 2001. He passed away in 1993.
2. Gurmukh Nihal Singh was born on November 1, 1918, in Daryaganj, Delhi. He served as the second Chief Minister of Delhi from February 12, 1955, to November 1, 1956. Singh represented the Daryaganj constituency during his term. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and worked on improving infrastructure and public services. After his term, he remained active in politics but did not hold major office. He passed away in 1994.
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3. Madan Lal Khurana was born on October 15, 1934, in a small village near Amritsar, Punjab. He became the third Chief Minister of Delhi on December 2, 1993, serving until February 26, 1996. Khurana represented the Moti Nagar constituency and was a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was known for his focus on urban development and public services. He continued in politics as a Member of Parliament and passed away in 2021.
4. Sahib Singh Verma was born on January 15, 1944, in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi. He served as the fourth Chief Minister from February 26, 1996, to October 12, 1998. Verma represented the Shalimar Bagh constituency as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He focused on infrastructure development, housing, transportation, and education reforms.
5. Sushma Swaraj was born on February 14, 1952, in Ambala Cantt., Haryana. She served as the fifth Chief Minister of Delhi for a brief period from October 12 to December 3, 1998. A prominent BJP figure, she also served as India's External Affairs Minister from 2014 to 2019. Known for her effective communication and diplomacy, Swaraj passed away in 2019.
6. Sheila Dikshit was born on March 31, 1938, in Kapurthala, Punjab. She served as the sixth Chief Minister of Delhi for three consecutive terms from December 3, 1998, to December 28, 2013—totalling over fifteen years—making her the longest-serving CM in Delhi's history. Dikshit represented the New Delhi constituency and was affiliated with the Indian National Congress (INC). Her tenure focused on transforming Delhi into a modern metropolis through extensive infrastructure projects like the Delhi Metro, flyovers, and improved sanitation facilities. She won elections with substantial margins; for instance, she secured over 64% of votes in her last election in December 2008.
7. Arvind Kejriwal was born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, Haryana. He became the seventh Chief Minister of Delhi on December 28, 2013, after briefly resigning in early February 2014 due to political challenges related to anti-corruption legislation. He returned to power on February 14, 2015, winning a historic majority by securing 67 out of 70 seats in that election with over 54% of votes cast for AAP candidates across constituencies. As a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Kejriwal focused on anti-corruption measures and improving public services like education and healthcare during his tenure.
He implemented various reforms aimed at making governance more transparent and accountable to citizens. After a brief resignation in early 2014, he returned to power with a historic majority. Leading the AAP, Kejriwal focused on anti-corruption, education, and healthcare reforms. In the February 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, he secured 62 out of 70 seats with approximately 53% of votes against BJP candidates. He was re-elected multiple times and continued to lead until his resignation in September 2024 due to legal issues.
8. Atishi Marlena, born on June 8, 1981, in a Tomar Rajput family, took over as Interim Chief Minister of Delhi in September 2024 following Kejriwal's sudden resignation. She's a popular AAP leader and Delhi Education Minister with significant contributions to the party's campaigns and the 2015 Jal Satyagraha, Atishi holds a history degree from St. Stephen's College and a Master's from Oxford University. She will serve as the CM until the February 2025 elections.