Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday that he would step down from his post within the next two days. Kejriwal made the statement while addressing party workers at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters after his release from Tihar Jail. The AAP leader, accompanied by his wife Sunita, said he would only return as chief minister and Manish Sisodia as deputy CM “when people affirm that we are honest.”
Political Reactions
The announcement drew sharp reactions from opposition parties. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed Kejriwal’s declaration as a “confession of crime,” while raising questions about internal conflicts within AAP. BJP leaders labeled the move as a “drama” and accused Kejriwal of using an “emotional card” to cover up for the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court. The court had granted him conditional bail in the excise policy graft case, barring him from entering his office or signing any official documents.
BJP’s Accusations
BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi criticized the timing of Kejriwal’s decision, questioning why the Delhi CM didn’t resign when he was first arrested in connection with the scam. Trivedi speculated that there might be internal strife within AAP, making it difficult for Kejriwal to continue leading.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva took a hard stance, saying, “The people of Delhi have already delivered their verdict during the Lok Sabha elections, where AAP failed to secure any of the seven seats. Let the entire cabinet resign and hold fresh elections in November.”
Another BJP spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, accused Kejriwal of plotting to install his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, as the next chief minister, comparing the situation to the “Manmohan Singh-like system” under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership of the Congress. He referred to the resignation as a calculated PR move to maintain power within the family.
Congress’s Reaction
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also weighed in, dismissing Kejriwal’s resignation talk as a “gimmick.” Dikshit pointed out that this was an unprecedented situation, where a sitting chief minister was released on bail and restricted by the Supreme Court from entering his office. He remarked, “The Supreme Court’s conditions, never imposed on any other CM, indicate that the court sees him as a potential risk to tamper with evidence. This is not about morality, but Kejriwal trying to play the victim card.”
As political parties continue to criticize Kejriwal’s decision, the next steps in Delhi’s political landscape remain uncertain.
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