(Image source from: x.com/AamAadmiParty)
After being granted bail and released from prison after six months, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation from his top position at a party meeting today. He stated that he will step down as Chief Minister in two days and will not hold the position until the people decide his fate. Kejriwal said that Delhi's elections are months away, and he has received justice from the court, but now he wants the people's verdict. He asked the people of Delhi whether they consider him innocent or guilty, and said he will only resume the Chief Minister's role if the people support him. Kejriwal also mentioned that a meeting of AAP legislators will be held within the next two days to select a new Chief Minister, and he will go among the people to seek their support. Additionally, he demanded that the Delhi elections, scheduled for February, be held in November along with the Maharashtra polls.
Addressing AAP workers, Mr. Kejriwal launched a fierce attack on the Narendra Modi government, claiming it was more authoritarian than the British. He said he refused to resign as Chief Minister despite being arrested to protect democracy. Mr. Kejriwal stated that cases have been filed against other opposition leaders, urging them not to resign if faced with similar allegations. He also spoke with former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was recently granted bail in a corruption case, expressing that their fate lies in the people's hands. According to AAP sources, Mr. Kejriwal had planned to announce his resignation after meeting with party leaders, but they later devised a strategy to address the situation.
Reacting to the shocking development, BJP's Harish Khurana questioned why the Aam Aadmi Party leader was creating drama. “Why after 48 hours? You have to cancel today. He has done this in the past. In Delhi do people ask if they can go to the secretariat and sign documents? Then what's the point?" Asked if the BJP was ready for early elections, Mr Khurana said: "We are ready today or tomorrow. We will come back to power in Delhi after 25 years." Speaking to reporters, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said it was up to the people to decide whether he wanted to be the prime minister. "People have been calling out their verdict (during the parliamentary elections) for three months. They have been roaming the streets of Delhi demanding votes." .People responded and put you in your place,” he said.
The Delhi Congress welcomed Kejriwal's resignation and said it was better late than never. It would have been better to resign when Delhi is facing floods and water shortage. Delhi Congress president Devendra Yadav expressed hope that the new chief minister would soon come to Delhi, visit his office and sign the documents.
