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 the AAP workers, Kejriwal said that he wants to give them an “agnipariksha” (trial by fire) after coming out of jail.
Two days after being released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced his resignation, a decision that came as a shock to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and even stunned opponents of the BJP and the Congress.
Addressing AAP workers at the party office in the national capital, Kejriwal said he had no ambition as he vowed not to sit on the CM’s chair until people give him a “certificate of honesty”.
Read more: ‘Won’t Sit In The Seat…’: Arvind Kejriwal Drops As Delhi CM, Eyeing Early Polls
The AAP chief was released on bail from Tihar on Friday in the excise policy corruption case. After Kejriwal’s unexpected announcement, the names of his wife Sunita and Delhi Ministers Atishi and Gopal Rai are the likely replacements.
“I will withdraw after two days and ask people whether I am honest. Until they answer, I will not sit on the CM’s chair… I will sit on the CM’s chair only after people give me a certificate of honesty. I want to give ‘agnipariksha’ (trial by fire) after out of jail,” Kejriwal said in his speech.
However, the BJP hit back at Kejriwal asking why he took 48 hours to resign and had to vacate the post today, seeking an explanation from Delhi Minister Atishi.
Explaining the “secret” behind the 48 hours, Atishi said, “Today is Sunday, tomorrow is the Eid al-Fitr holiday, so the next working day is Tuesday. That’s why it’s two days.”
#WATCH | Delhi: When asked why he (Delhi CM) took two days to resign, Delhi Minister Atishi said, “Today is Sunday, tomorrow is a holiday for Idul-e-Milad, so the next working day is Tuesday. That’s why two days” pic.twitter.com/QjFopplRsY— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2024
‘Secret’ BJP Question In 48 Hours
The BJP said that Kejriwal has asked for 48 hours of resignation to find a replacement or make some adjustments.
Speaking at a press conference, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, “Delhi voters gave their verdict three months ago, resulting in the loss of 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 AAP leaders are creating drama. “Why after 48 hours? they have to resign today. In the past, they have done this too. Delhiites are asking, they can’t go to the secretariat, they can’t sign documents? What’s the point?” said to him NDTV.
Congressional reaction
Responding to Kejriwal’s statement, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said, “There is no question of becoming CM again. We have been saying for a long time that he should resign as Chief Minister. This is just a gimmick. Nothing happened before the elected leader came out of jail on bail and was asked by the Court Agung not to go to the Chief Minister’s office or sign any letter.
“Such a situation has never happened to another Chief Minister. Perhaps the Supreme Court is even afraid that this person might try to destroy the evidence. The Supreme Court treats him like a criminal. There is no connection between morality and Arvind Kejriwal,” added Dikshit.
Kejriwal Early Election Call
In his first address to party workers after his release from prison, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he would resign as Delhi Chief Minister within the next two days.
Read more: Will AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal’s Wife Sunita Become Delhi Chief Minister?
Kejriwal insisted that Delhi should go to polls along with Maharashtra, where assembly elections are likely in October. He also mentioned that until elections are held, another AAP member will be the Chief Minister. “There are elections in February. I request that the elections be held along with Maharashtra. Until the elections, someone else from the Aam Aadmi Party will be the Minister,” he added.
Addressing AAP workers, Kejriwal mentioned that he quit as chief minister in 2014 over the Jan Lokpal Bill, just 49 days after assuming power, and said, “I resigned for my ideals. I have no ambition.”
The excise policy case will take time, the chief minister said and said that he wants to ask the people of Delhi whether he is honest or not. He asked people to vote only if they thought he was honest. “For me, BJP is not important, people are important,” Kejriwal said.
