Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Delhi ministers Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi during AAP workers’ meeting, in New Delhi. (PTI)
While addressing AAP workers, Kejriwal said he wants to give “agnipariksha” (trial by fire) after coming out of jail
Two days after getting out of Delhi’s Tihar Jail, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced to step down from his post, a decision which came as a shock for his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and even surprised his opponents BJP and Congress.
While addressing AAP workers at party office in the national capital, Kejriwal said he does not have a lust for power while vowing not to sit in CM’s chair till people give him a “certificate of honesty”.
Read More: ‘Will Not Sit On That Chair…’: Arvind Kejriwal To Step Down As Delhi CM, Seeks Early Polls
The AAP chief was released on bail from Tihar on Friday in the excise policy graft case. Following Kejriwal’s unexpected announcement, the names of his wife Sunita and Delhi Ministers Atishi and Gopal Rai as his probable replacement are doing the rounds.
“I am going to resign after two days and ask people whether I am honest. Till they respond, I won’t sit on CM’s chair… I will only sit on CM’s chair after people give me a certificate of honesty. I want to give ‘agnipariksha’ (trial by fire) after coming out of jail,” Kejriwal said in his speech.
However, the BJP hit back at Kejriwal asking why he need 48 hours to resign and should leave the post today, prompting an explanation from Delhi Minister Atishi.
Explaining “secret” behind 48 hours, Atishi said, “Today is Sunday, tomorrow is a holiday for Eid-e-Milad, so the next working day is Tuesday. That’s why two days time.”
#WATCH | Delhi: On being asked why he(Delhi CM) needs two days time to resign, Delhi Minister Atishi says, “Today is Sunday, tomorrow is a holiday for Eid-e-Milad, so the next working day is Tuesday. That’s why two days time” pic.twitter.com/QjFopplRsY— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2024
BJP Questions ‘Secret’ Behind 48 Hours
The BJP alleged that Kejriwal has requested 48 hours to resign to either find a replacement or make some adjustments.
Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, “Delhi’s voters rendered their verdict three months ago, resulting in the loss of all seven seats. The entire council of ministers should resign and let elections be held in November. The public is fed up with them.”
Read More: ‘PR Stunt, Gimmick’: BJP, Congress React To Kejriwal’s Bid To Resign As Delhi CM
BJP leader Harish Khurana also questioned why the AAP leader is creating a drama. “Why after 48 hours? he should resign today. In the past too, he has done this. People of Delhi are asking, he can’t go to the secretariat, can’t sign documents? What is the point then?” he said to NDTV.
Congress Reacts
Responding to Kejriwal’s statement, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said, “There is no question of becoming the CM again. We have been saying for a long time that he should resign as Chief Minister. This is merely a gimmick. It is unprecedented for an elected leader to come out of jail on bail and be asked by the Supreme Court not to go to the Chief Minister’s office or sign any papers.”
“Such conditions have never been imposed on any other Chief Minister. Perhaps the Supreme Court even fears that this person might try to tamper with the evidence. The Supreme Court is treating him like a criminal. There is no correlation between morality and Arvind Kejriwal,” Dikshit added.
Kejriwal Calls Early Elections
In his first address to party workers after he walked out of prison, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that he would resign from the post of the Chief Minister of Delhi within the next two days.
Read More: Will AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal’s Wife Sunita Be The Next Chief Minister Of Delhi?
Kejriwal insisted that Delhi should go to polls along with Maharashtra, where assembly elections are likely in October. He also mentioned that until the elections are held, another member of the AAP will take over as the Chief Minister. “There are elections in February. I demand that the elections be held along with Maharashtra’s. Until the elections take place, someone else from the Aam Aadmi Party will become the Chief Minister,” he added.
While addressing AAP workers, Kejriwal referred to him quitting the chief minister’s post in 2014 over the Jan Lokpal Bill, just 49 days after assuming power, and said, “I resigned then for my ideals. I do not have a lust for power.”
The excise policy case would drag on for a long time, the chief minister claimed and said he wanted to ask the people of Delhi whether he was honest or guilty. He asked people to vote in his favour only if they considered him honest. “For me, the BJP is not important, people are important,” Kejriwal said.
