The chief minister resigned after allegations of corruption. Other leaders are filling in. A party that sees an uncertain future despite having a majority. This may sound like the story of the Aam Aadmi Party and its organizer Arvind Kejriwal. And that’s it. But so is the general story of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its late leader Madan Lal Khurana. It seems like history is repeating itself in Delhi, and what the BJP’s main rival did in 1996, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party did today.
Khurana became the chief minister of Delhi in 1993 with his party, the BJP, winning a clear majority. Of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly, the BJP won 49.
All was well until February 1996, when Khurana had to resign after the Central Bureau of Investigation sought permission from the union government to charge him in the Rs 650 million hawala case. Khurana was charged for allegedly receiving Rs 3 lakh from a hawala broker, the Jain brothers in November 1989.
Khurana resigned in the hope that the party would complete him as the chief minister if he gets clean. Sahib Singh Verma took charge of the city and continued in that position until October 1998.
Meanwhile, over the course of several months, Khurana acquired a clean slate. The court observed that there was no prima facie case against him. The BJP leader blamed the then Prime Minister for the case.
“The patently false charge sheet was filed at the behest of prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, with the aim of showing that Congress alone is not corrupt,” Khurana told the media.
While he had high hopes that he would regain his seat, the political situation in the city has changed. Verma got the support and confidence of BJP MLAs and he refused to be the caretaker CM in charge in Khurana’s absence.
Little did Verma know, however, that the great onion disaster of 1998 lay ahead. Onion price reaches Rs 60-80 per kilogram. There was anger among the masses. Then finally came Sushma Swaraj into the picture. With elections just two months away, the BJP trusted Swaraj, a woman, while Verma had to step down as chief minister.
Explaining why Swaraj, then BJP leader Vijay Goel said: “Elections are around the corner. It is felt that new faces, especially women, will help the party.
Elections were held, and from 49 seats in 1993, the BJP’s tally dropped to just 15 in 1998. Delhi saw the rise of Sheila Dikshit with the Congress winning 52 seats. Since then, the BJP has never won an assembly poll in Delhi.
History Repeating Itself?
Kejriwal, along with top cabinet ministers, has faced allegations of corruption. He was arrested in March but refused to resign as chief minister. While he was released from Tihar jail last week when the Supreme Court granted him bail, he announced on Sunday that he would resign as chief minister.
Kejriwal, along with his deputy Manish Sisodia, was accused of being involved in corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 which has now been scrapped.
Elections are likely to be held in the capital in January-February 2025. At the beginning, Kejriwal said that he wanted early polls in Delhi, shortly before handing over his resignation to the lieutenant governor, the party announced that the cabinet minister Atishi will be. the new chief minister until Kejriwal got a “clean chit” from the public.
Just as Khurana accused the Center of making him a false case, Kejriwal also said.
Speaking to the media, Atishi on Tuesday called Kejriwal’s resignation “historic” and “in protest”. He said his return to office depends on the people’s decision.
“I will say again for the people of Delhi that they want to see Arvind Kejriwal as the chief minister after the upcoming elections,” he said.
AAP won 62 seats in the 2020 assembly elections out of total 70 and the party got a clear majority.
Atishi and Sushma
While women often do not get a prominent place in politics, in a crisis, they are seen as a safe bet. Swaraj was tested by BJP in 1998, and is now Atishi for AAP.
Choosing a woman for the post not only helps in checking in-fighting but also gives a sense that the party is sensitive.
Currently, West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee is India’s only woman CM. Atishi will join Banerjee.
Atishi will be the third woman chief minister of Delhi. But Dikshit will continue to hold the tag to complete the full term.
If all goes according to plan, Atishi will serve as CM until February 2025 when elections will be held. While AAP hopes to repeat its 2015 (67 out of 70 seats) and 2020 (62 seats) mandates, its chances will be tested in next year’s election battle.
(tagToTranslate)AAP