Arvind Kejriwal to resign as Delhi’s chief minister in two days

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday that he plans to resign in two days and will push for early elections in Delhi, stating he will not occupy the CM’s seat until the public grants him a “certificate of honesty.”

Following his release on bail from Tihar Jail on Friday in relation to the excise policy corruption case, Kejriwal mentioned he would soon convene a meeting with AAP MLAs to select a new party leader to take over as chief minister.

Although Delhi elections are scheduled for February, Kejriwal demanded they be moved up to November, coinciding with Maharashtra’s elections. “I will only return as CM once people certify my honesty,” he said, expressing a desire to undergo an “agnipariksha” after his time in jail.

Kejriwal, the AAP national convener, declared he and Manish Sisodia would resume their roles as CM and deputy CM only if the people acknowledged their integrity. He accused the BJP of trying to portray him as corrupt, claiming the party couldn’t deliver quality education or free electricity due to its own corruption. He reiterated, “We are honest.”

He further alleged that the BJP files false charges against non-BJP chief ministers and urged those arrested to continue governing from jail. Kejriwal explained that he didn’t resign during his arrest in the excise case because of his respect for democracy and the Constitution. He emphasised that AAP is the only party capable of opposing BJP’s “conspiracies.”

Recalling his 2014 resignation after just 49 days in office over the Jan Lokpal Bill, Kejriwal stated, “I resigned then for my principles, not for power”. He acknowledged that the excise case could drag on and wanted Delhi residents to decide if he was honest or guilty.

Kejriwal urged voters to support him only if they believed in his honesty, emphasizing that the people’s opinion mattered more than the BJP. He also expressed hope for the release of AAP leaders Satyendar Jain and Amanatullah Khan, still in jail, and thanked God for guiding them through their challenges.

Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal: SC grants bail to Delhi CM in excise policy case

Kejriwal shared insights from his time in jail, referencing letters written by freedom fighter Bhagat Singh while imprisoned, and noted he had written just one letter to the Lieutenant Governor from Tihar, for which he received a warning. He also mentioned that, unlike freedom fighters who were allowed meetings with comrades, his colleague Sandeep Pathak was not permitted to visit him in jail. (With inputs from PTI)