Kejriwal to Quit as Delhi CM: BJP Criticises (Image: X @ArvindKejriwal)

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP head, Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation on Sunday after being released from Tihar Jail. He declared that he would step down as Chief Minister within two days and would not take back the position until the people of Delhi give their verdict in the upcoming elections.

Kejriwal said, “I will not sit in the Chief Minister’s chair until the people’s verdict is announced. I will only return to the chair if the people vote for me.” He also clarified that his party will decide who will be the next Chief Minister of Delhi and a decision will be made in a cabinet meeting within two days. “We will go to the court of people to prove our innocence,” He added. Kejriwal also accused the BJP of trying to break his party and form their government in Delhi. He claimed they also tried to weaken his spirit but failed.

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However, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called Kejriwal’s move a publicity stunt. He said Kejriwal is trying to improve his image because people now see him as a corrupt leader, and his party is known for corruption nationwide. Bhandari stated that Kejriwal wants to follow Sonia Gandhi’s approach, where she controlled the government from behind the scenes using a puppet prime minister. “He thinks Kejriwal’s party will lose the upcoming Delhi elections as they’re trying to shift the blame to someone else,” he said.

Another BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi reacted to his resignation saying that Kejriwal was “forced to resign” due to the Supreme Court’s order. Trivedi criticised Kejriwal’s comparison of himself to Bhagat Singh, saying it was an attempt to tarnish the martyr’s reputation. He questioned Kejriwal’s reasons for resigning and seeking early elections suggesting internal party conflicts. Trivedi also called Kejriwal’s behaviour “confusing and doubtful”.

It was on July 12, 2024, that Arvind Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. However, he remained in jail as he was also arrested by the CBI in a corruption case related to the alleged liquor policy scam. He was finally released from jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the corruption case.

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