Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's unexpected announcement of his resignation on Sunday has set off a wave of speculation regarding his potential successor. Several senior leaders within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are being considered as frontrunners for the top post. Among the names circulating are current Delhi legislators Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, Gopal Rai, and Imran Hussain.

In addition to these names, there is also speculation about Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Arvind Kejriwal, possibly stepping into the role. Some party insiders have hinted at the potential appointment of a Dalit leader as the next Chief Minister, although no specific names have been mentioned yet.

Kejriwal has ruled out the possibility of his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, taking over the position. Sisodia himself has stated that he will focus on campaigning alongside Kejriwal, seeking support based on the party's commitment to honesty, but will not take any official role until he receives public approval.

Among the front-runners, Atishi is considered a strong candidate due to her effective management of key portfolios such as education, finance, revenue, and law. Kejriwal had even nominated her to hoist the tricolor on Independence Day, although this nomination was later rejected, with the task being assigned to Kailash Gahlot instead.

The current term of the Delhi Assembly is due to end on February 11, 2025. The last assembly election held on February 8, 2020, saw AAP securing a decisive victory with 62 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 8 seats in the 70-member assembly.

As the electoral roll revision process is currently underway, the final list of voters is expected to be published on January 6, 2025, paving the way for the upcoming state elections. The political landscape of Delhi may witness significant changes depending on AAP's choice of successor for Kejriwal and how this impacts the party's electoral strategy moving forward.