Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned from office on Tuesday after meeting the lieutenant governor, following an announcement on Sunday in which he vowed to seek “justice from the people’s court” through the upcoming elections. Following his resignation, Aam Aadmi Party minister Atishi will be sworn in to lead the Delhi government till the Assembly elections due in February 2025.
Kejriwal’s bail and resignation
Kejriwal’s resignation follows his arrest in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi’s liquor policy, a case that has also implicated his former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Sisodia, who was jailed for 18 months, has also vowed to stand for re-election after being granted bail, with the AAP claiming his arrest is part of a “political conspiracy” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Atishi elected to lead Delhi government
Though the list of possible successors included prominent AAP leaders like Raghav Chadha, Kailash Gahlot and Sanjay Singh, the party unanimously chose Atishi as the interim Chief Minister.
“Atishi takes over the leadership of Delhi till the next elections, carrying the weight of CM Arvind Kejriwal’s vision and the future of the national capital,” said a statement from the party.
Atishi, a well-known figure within the AAP, has pledged to continue working for Kejriwal’s re-election.
“I will work with one goal. We have to make Arvind Kejriwal the Chief Minister of Delhi again,” he told reporters after his new post was announced today. He expressed gratitude to Kejriwal for his confidence in his leadership, saying, “I come from a normal family. If I had been in any other party, I might not even have been given an election ticket. But Arvind Kejriwal trusted me, he made me an MLA.” [legislator] and a minister and today, I was given the responsibility of Prime Minister.”
AAP calls for early legislative elections
Kejriwal, who was the face of the Delhi government since 2015, was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court after six months of detention in connection with the liquor policy case. Though he has refrained from actively serving as Chief Minister due to legal restrictions, his party has called for elections in November, possibly coinciding with the Maharashtra elections, to seek a fresh mandate from Delhi voters.
Elections to the Delhi legislative assembly are officially scheduled for February next year, but AAP believes an early election could hasten Kejriwal’s return to power.
First published: September 17, 2024 | 17:18 IS
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