Today, On 15th September, Arvind Kejriwal made a surprising announcement of his resignation and called for early elections in Delhi. His sudden decision has stirred political debate, with BJP leader Harish Khurana accusing Kejriwal of creating unnecessary drama. The announcement intensified speculation about the political future of the AAP government.
New Delhi: Two days after being granted bail and released from jail after six months, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made a surprising announcement of his resignation at a party meeting.
Kejriwal stated,
“In two days, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not sit on that chair until the people deliver their verdict. Elections in Delhi are a few months away. I received justice from the legal court, now I will seek justice from the people’s court. I will sit in the Chief Minister’s chair only with the people’s mandate,”
Addressing the people of Delhi, he asked,
“Is Kejriwal innocent or guilty? If I have worked for you, vote for me.”
He further added,
“A meeting of AAP MLAs would take place within two days to elect the next Chief Minister for Delhi.”
Kejriwal confirmed that a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be named as his successor. He also expressed his intention to personally seek the people’s support and urged that the Delhi elections, scheduled for February, be advanced to November to coincide with Maharashtra’s polls.
In his speech to AAP supporters, Kejriwal launched a strong criticism against the Narendra Modi government, comparing it to a dictatorship worse than British rule.
He said,
“I didn’t resign as Chief Minister after being arrested because I wanted to protect democracy,”
He further added,
“They have filed cases against leaders like Siddaramaiah, Pinarayi Vijayan, and Mamata Banerjee. I urge non-BJP leaders not to resign if cases are registered against you. This is their new strategy.”
Arvind Kejriwal mentioned that he had discussed the matter with former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was recently granted bail over corruption allegations related to Delhi’s now-cancelled liquor policy.
Kejriwal stated,
“I spoke to Manish, and he has also said that he will only take up the position once the people affirm our honesty. The fate of both Sisodia and me is now in your hands,”
In response to Kejriwal’s announcement, BJP’s Harish Khurana criticized the AAP leader, questioning the delay.
“Why wait for 48 hours? He should resign today. He’s done this before. People of Delhi are asking if he can’t go to the secretariat or sign documents, what’s the point?”
When asked if the BJP was prepared for early elections, Khurana confidently replied,
“We are ready, whether it’s today or tomorrow. After 25 years, we will return to power in Delhi.”
Kejriwal’s announcement sparked intense political discussions, raising questions about the future of Delhi’s leadership and the upcoming elections. His move is being seen as a bold gamble, putting his fate in the hands of Delhi’s electorate while framing the upcoming elections as a referendum on his leadership and integrity.