AAP leader Atishi takes charge as eighth chief minister of Delhi

GOPAL RAI ALSO TOOK CHARGE AT DELHI SECRETARIAT

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AAP leader Atishi took charge as the chief minister of Delhi on Monday, and kept the chair used by her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal empty and "waiting for him", a move the BJP and the Congress said was a "grave insult" to the post.

Talking to reporters at the CM's office after taking charge, Atishi referred to the Hindu epic Ramayana and said her situation was like that of Lord Ram's brother Bharat who had to rule Ayodhya after Lord Ram went into exile for 14 years.

In the chief minister's office at the Delhi Secretariat, the 43-year-old Atishi sat in a white chair next to the red one used by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. "The chair of the chief minister of Delhi belongs to him (Kejriwal). Till then, this chair (pointing towards the chair next to her) will remain in this room, waiting for him," she said.