New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi will be the new Chief Minister of Delhi after all legislators accepted party chief and outgoing CM Arvind Kejriwal’s proposal Tuesday.
Atishi currently holds key portfolios in the Delhi government, including education, the public works department, and culture and tourism.
The Supreme Court—which gave bail to Kejriwal Friday in the CBI case connected to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam—had forbidden the AAP chief from going to office or the Delhi secretariat. As part of the bail conditions, Kejriwal could not sign official files either. Kejriwal was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 21 March and later by the CBI on 26 June in connection with their respective probes into the Delhi government’s now-withdrawn excise policy 2021-22.
He told workers Sunday that he would resign in the next two days, and is expected to put in his papers today to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.
Addressing AAP cadres at the Delhi party office Sunday, Kejriwal said he would only take the chief minister’s chair after the people gave him a “certificate of honesty”. “I want to give an ‘agnipariksha’ after coming out of jail,” he said, adding the people’s court would decide whether he was innocent or guilty. “If I’ve served you well, vote for me,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal has also asked for the Delhi Assembly elections to be held in November. However, the term of the Delhi Assembly ends in February 2025.
He told workers the reason for not resigning earlier—despite being in jail for nearly six months—was the need to “protect democracy”. He urged non-BJP chief ministers not to resign if they were arrested, citing the cases against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. He called this the BJP’s new “tactic”.
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai told media persons that Atishi’s name was unanimously passed in the AAP legislators’ meeting Tuesday. “You all know that this responsibility has been given to her in a difficult situation. The BJP and the BJP-led central government conspired to finish the AAP by misusing agencies. However, the AAP has shown its unity and foiled all attempts,” he said.
Also read: What’s behind Kejriwal’s decision to resign as Delhi CM & who might replace him