New Delhi/IBNS: In a rare instance, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, who had been at loggerheads with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, praised Chief Minister Atishi on Friday, calling her "a thousand times better" than her predecessor and party boss Arvind Kejriwal.

Speaking at the convocation of the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women this afternoon, Saxena expressed his satisfaction that the current Chief Minister is a woman.

"... and I can confidently say she is a thousand times better than her predecessor," Saxena said.

On Sept 21, Atishi took oath as the youngest Chief Minister of Delhi, stepping into the shoes of party chief Arvind Kejriwal who quit the post earlier this week after walking free on bail in the liquor policy case.

The AAP government in Delhi under Atishi's leadership will be short since the tenure ends in February when the national capital will vote to elect a new CM.

Saxena didn't always have kind words for Atishi then.

Last month, Saxena slammed Kejriwal for not implementing the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme the Ayushman Bharat during his term as Chief Minister.

Dismissing the Delhi government's scheme, which he called "a web of illusion", Saxena also accused Kejriwal of suppressing reports by central auditors.

The two also traded multiple barbs while Kejriwal was jailed on corruption charges connected to the liquor policy case including battles over the nomination of aldermen to the Municipal Corporation and claims Saxena was "stalling" the budget for no reason.