Women Chief Ministers in India post 2000!

With the major announcement of Atishi Singh stepping in as the Chief Minister of Delhi, India currently has two women Chief Ministers: Mamata Banerjee, the CM of West Bengal. However, since 2000, several eminent personalities(women) have served as Chief Ministers of various states. Let us have a look at these CMs who have made their mark as Chief Ministers.

Atishi Singh, Delhi (2024- Incumbent)

The major announcement this week was all about Atishi Singh, a politician from the Aam Aadmi Party taking up the fort of the nation's capital after the former Chief Minister resigned as the CM. Singh has become Delhi's third woman CM at the age of 43 after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit. Atishi Singh is the daughter of Delhi University professors Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi and did her schooling at Springdales School. She graduated from St. Stephen’s College and completed her master's from Oxford University.

Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir  (2016-2018)

Mehbooba Mufti Sayed, the leader of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP), served as the first woman chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir between April 4, 2016, and June 19, 2018. The daughter of PDP founder and former J&K CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, she got her law degree from the University of Kashmir. Along with being the first woman CM from the state, she was also the second Muslim woman to hold the CM's office.

Anandiben Patel, Gujarat (2014 to 2016)

The current governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Mafatbhai Patel, a politician from the BJP served as the only Chief Minister of Gujarat as of now when she joined the office in 2014 following Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister of the country. Her tenure remained between May 22, 2014, to August 1, 2016, when she desired to resign over her age. Being an athlete in her early life, she was also awarded the "Veer Bala" award in Mehsana for her outstanding achievement in athletics.

Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal (2011-incumbent)

Mamata Banerjee has been the serving CM of West Bengal since May 20, 2011. She is also the first woman to hold this position in the state. The founder and Chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Banerjee is often called "didi" and has also served as Minister of Railways - the first woman to do so.  She completed her graduation degree in history from Jogamaya Devi College with a master's degree in Islamic history from the University of Calcutta.

Vasundhara Raje, Rajasthan (2013-2018)

Belonging to the BJP, Vasundhara Raje was the first woman who served as the Chief Minister for the state of Rajasthan from December 12, 2013, to December 17, 2018. Raje was also the first minister to ever serve as the Minister for Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries, also known as 'Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises'. She graduated with economics and political science degrees from the Mumbai-based Sophia College for Women.

Uma Bharti, Madhya Pradesh (2003-2004)

Uma Bharti took the throne of Madhya Pradesh in 2003 for a year making it a tenure between December 8, 2003, to August 22, 2004. Contested the elections from the side of the BJP, she had defeated the opponent from the Indian National Congress (INC) from the Malehra seat by a 25 percent margin. After leaving the BJP, however, Bharti established her own party, Bharatiya Janshakti Party, and got elected as a member of the legislative assembly in Uttar Pradesh.

Sheila Dixit, Delhi (1998-2013)

The achievements of the late Sheila Dixit are many. She is the longest-serving chief minister of Delhi, and also the longest-serving female chief minister of any Indian state. Belonging to the Indian National Congress, she served from December 4, 1998, to December 27, 2013. She completed her education at the Convent of Jesus and Mary School in New Delhi and graduated from the Miranda House at the University of Delhi with a Master of Arts degree in history.

Rabri Devi, Bihar (1997-2005)

Rabri Devi is the first and the only woman to serve as the chief minister of Bihar. Belonging to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Rabri Devi held the position for three consecutive terms starting July 25, 1997, which ended on February 11, 1999. Her second tenure began on March 9, 1999 to March 2, 2000. However, the third tenure was from March 11, 2000 to March 2005. It is said that her name was kept on the name of the sweet, 'Rabdi' as per traditions in her family and her sister's names go by, 'Jalebi', 'Rasgulla', and 'Paan'.

Mayawati, Uttar Pradesh (1995-1995, 1997-1997, 2002-2003, 2007 to 2012)

Mayawati, the national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has served as the CM for four times. She joined the office from June 3 1995 to October 18, 1995; March 21, 1997, to  September 21, 1997; May 3, 2002, to August 29, 2003 and May 13, 2007, to March 15, 2012. Mayawati has gained a lot of recognition for working for the Bahujans, Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes as well as religious minorities. She has also been called, the "miracle of democracy" by P. V. Narasimha Rao, the former Prime Minister of India due to her rise from humble beginnings.

J. Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu (1991-1996, 2001-2001, 2002-2006, 2011-2014, 2015-2016)

J. Jayalalithaa was one of the most popular politicians in India, especially in the southern parts. She served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu between June 24, 1991 to May 12, 1996; May 14, 2001, to September 21, 2001; March 2, 2002, to May 12, 2006; May 16, 2011, to September 27, 2014, and May 23, 2015, to December 5, 2016. She was the 5th as well as the longest-serving general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), who was often referred to as "Amma" and "Puratchi Thalaivi" by her cadre. Apart from this, Jayalalithaa was also a prominent film actress in the mid-1960s and has worked in almost 140 films.