Atishi ‘changed her father’: Ramesh Bidhuri’s next ad hominem after Priyanka

The BJP's Kalkaji candidate Ramesh Bidhuri on Sunday, 5 January, courted yet another controversy after objectifying of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, this time getting personal with Delhi chief minister Atishi.

Speaking at the BJP's Parivartan Rally in Rohini that was later addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bidhuri claimed Atishi changed her surname from "Marlena" to "Singh".

Atishi, who is the sitting MLA from the Kalkaji seat, dropped her surname a while back.

"This 'Marlena' became Singh, changed name. Kejriwal swore over his children not to go with the corrupt Congress, Marlena changed her father. Earlier she was Marlena, now she has become Singh. This is their character," Bidhuri said.

As the video of Bidhuri's speech showed up on the internet, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the BJP, saying its leaders crossed all the limits of "shamelessness."

'BJP leaders are hurling abuses at Delhi chief minister Atishi-ji. The people of Delhi will not tolerate the insult to a woman chief minister. All the women in Delhi will take revenge for this,' he said in a post on X.

Atishi's name indeed has an interesting history, reflecting political influences that go back to her parents. Her last name 'Marlena' was derived as a portmanteau of 'Marx' and 'Lenin', which symbolised the leftist values of her parents — both academics, Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi are former professors of history who taught at Delhi University.

However, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Atishi chose to drop the surname, which led to some speculation in the media over her own political position.

Some said the change came about because her political opponents used her full name to suggest that she was 'Christian', trying to discredit her by othering her on religious grounds. To counter this narrative and avoid being targeted by communal identity politics, these observers hold, Atishi chose to drop the surname and simply went by the mononym 'Atishi'. Others felt she was just striking out on her own path, distancing herself from the political legacy of her parents.

At one point, she was indeed referred to as Atishi Singh, borrowing her father's surname.

The AAP in a statement said Bidhuri's "abusive remarks" against a female chief minister exposed the BJP's "anti-women" mindset.

"If he behaves this way now, imagine the treatment ordinary women would face if he mistakenly becomes an MLA," said the ruling party in Delhi.

Kejriwal's promise of Rs 2,100 monthly allowance for the city's women as well as Atishi's own track record on education in particular has rattled the BJP, the AAP's supporters believe. Delhi will teach the BJP and Ramesh Bidhuri a lesson by defeating him, the ruling party has asserted.

The elections to the 70-member Delhi assembly are due in February.

With PTI inputs