Arvind Kejriwal to resign as Delhi CM, says will prove innocence

In a dramatic move, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that he would step down from the position of the chief minister on September 17 and the legislative party of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would meet in a couple of days to elect the new chief minister. Kejriwal made the announcement at the AAP headquarters near Mandi House on Sunday while addressing party workers, two days after coming out of jail following the grant of bail by the Supreme Court in the 2021-22 excise policy case.
Kejriwal, who spent six months in jail in connection with allegations of irregularities in excise policy, said he would accept the chief minister’s post only if people certify his honesty in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. “We will go to the court of people to prove our innocence,” Kejriwal said, demanding that Delhi assembly election be held in November, months ahead of its tentative schedule in February 2025.
Kejriwal ruled out Manish Sisodia as his successor. “I was talking to Manish, and he said that he would only take up the position if the public says he is honest. The decision regarding me and Sisodia is in your hands,” Kejriwal said. Manish Sisodia spent 17 months in jail in connection with corruption allegations in excise case.
Kejriwal was first sworn in as the chief minister of Delhi in 2013, but he resigned in 49 days over his inability to mobilise support for the AAP government-proposed anti-corruption legislation. In 2015, Kejriwal took oath as CM for the second time when AAP won 67 out of 70 seats. He took over as the CM for the third time in February 2020 when AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats.
Kejriwal said: “My heart says that I should not sit on the CM’s chair unless court declares us innocent. This case (excise policy) will go on for many many years. Now I am in the court of people….After two more days, I will resign from the post of CM. I will not sit on this chair unless people deliver their verdict. Your every vote will be my certificate of honesty. Delhi will see elections in the next few months. Don’t vote for me if you think I am not honest.”
The Supreme Court on Friday granted Kejriwal bail in the CBI case but set certain conditions — the CM cannot leave the country, he cannot visit his office or the Delhi secretariat, and he is not at liberty to sign any official files, unless required and necessary for obtaining clearance or approval of the lieutenant governor. Additionally, Kejriwal is barred from making public statements about his alleged role in the case and is ordered to remain present at all trial hearings, unless granted exemption.
Kejriwal said the case is fake and was fabricated to crush AAP.
Immediately after Kejriwal’s announcement, speculations are rife on who will be the next chief minister.
Among the ministers, Atishi handles most of the departments in Delhi government as minister, and days before the Independence Day functions, Kejriwal had recommended Atishi for hoisting the national flag on August 15. AAP officials said either an MLA or a minister is likely to be the next CM of Delhi [as soon as CM resigns the Delhi Cabinet will be dissolved]. A final decision will be taken in the legislative party meeting of the AAP. AAP has 61 MLAs in the 70-member Delhi assembly.
Kejriwal said: “They are accusing me of being a thief and corrupt person. I had not joined politics to seek wealth or power. I wanted to do something for my country….This will be my agnipariksha.”
Kejriwal said that the legislative group of AAP MLAs will meet in next few days to elect a new chief minister.
Delhi chief minister said that the opposition is saying that Kejriwal will not be able to work because Supreme Court has imposed some bail conditions. “These conditions create no problems. They have brought laws after laws to deprive me of power, but I did not let the government’s work stop. My only condition is my honesty. If you think I am honest, vote for me.”
Seeking early elections in November, Kejriwal said that elections should be held along with Maharashtra. “Till the elections are held, someone else from AAP will be CM. In next few days, the AAP MLAs will meet and finalise next CM. Manish Sisodia has also said that he will be deputy CM and education minister after people of Delhi certify him to be honest. Now our future is in our hands.”
BJP leader and south Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said Kejriwal should have resigned when he was arrested by the ED in March but finally his decision to resign is a welcome step. “The people of Delhi will defeat the AAP in the assembly election. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election Arvind Kejriwal went to the people and asked them to vote for the AAP-Congress if they think Kejriwal is honest and vote for the BJP if they think otherwise. The people defeated AAP-Congress on all seven Lok Sabha seats. Now, AAP will get defeated in the assembly election because in the last 10 years, the AAP government did nothing but indulge in corruption and mislead the people,” said Bidhuri.
AAP leaders are expected to gather at CM residence on Sunday evening to discuss the unfolding political situation in the national capital with Kejriwal.
Harish Khurana, secretary and spokesperson of the Delhi BJP raised questions about the two days of delay in handing over the resignation. He argued that the conditions imposed in the bail have made sure that Kejriwal has to resign. “Why has he sought two more day? Why is he not resigning today? They want to create drama and may later argue that people and workers don’t want him to resign…People of Delhi are angry. Kejriwal should have resigned when he was in jail.”
He added: “There is a Supreme Court order that he cannot go to secretariat or sign any files. I believe the Supreme Court order made sure that he has to resign. The only question is why he is not resigning immediately.”
Delhi BJP vice president Kapil Mishra said that the announcement of resignation is a victory of people of Delhi. “He was not willing to resign from the post even while being lodged in jail. They want to go to court of people, but people have voted on these very issues in the Lok Sabha elections. Instead of electing a new chief minister, they should dissolve the assembly.”