NEW DELHI: In a shock move, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday declared that he will step down from his position within the next two days, sparking speculation that assembly elections in the national capital might have be held earlier than February 2025, when the current term of the Delhi Legislative Assembly is set to end. There is also the burning question of who the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will choose as placeholder CM till the elections.
"I am going to resign from the CM position after two days. I will not sit on the CM's chair. In a few months, elections will be held in Delhi, and I want to make an appeal to the people. If you think Kejriwal is honest, then vote for me," Kejriwal told party workers, days after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the excise policy case.
Read also: If Arvind Kejriwal steps aside as Delhi CM, who could take over? Here are the top candidates
"If you think Kejriwal is guilty, then don't vote for me. Your every vote will be a certificate of my honesty. If you vote for me and declare that Kejriwal is honest, then only after the elections will I sit on the CM's chair. Until then, I will not sit on the CM's chair. I want to give 'agnipariksha' after coming out of jail," he added.
" Delhi elections are due in February but I demand that elections in the national capital be held in November with Maharashtra," he said.
Kejriwal further indicated that his deputy Manish Sisodia will also return to office only after the people give a verdict in his favour. "I will become chief minister and Manish Sisodia deputy CM only when people say we are honest," said the CM.
Referring to when he quit the chief minister's post in 2014 over the Jan Lokpal Bill, just 49 days after assuming power, Kejriwal said, "I resigned then for my ideals. I do not have a lust for power."
Commenting on why he didn't resign after he was arrested in March, Kejriwal said: "I didn't resign (after arrest in excise policy case) because I respect democracy and the Constitution is supreme for me."
Strategic move or big risk?
Kejriwal framed his recent announcement as a moral stand, suggesting that he will not occupy the CM chair until he receives a "certificate of honesty" from the electorate.
Election experts said the move is likely aimed at addressing growing concerns about corruption and governance under Kejriwal's leadership and also serves to rally the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its supporters around a narrative of integrity and accountability.
AAP Goa head Amit Palekar said in a post on X: "Hats off sir @ArvindKejriwal for your decision to step down as Chief Minister, placing your political future in the hands of the public, is a powerful demonstration of your commitment to honest politics. Your call for the people of Delhi to decide your fate through their votes, rather than clinging to power, highlights your integrity and transparency."
Kejriwal's resignation will however mean that the party will have to choose a placeholder CM, and probably also a deputy CM, till the time elections are held.
Choosing a CM for just a few months has often led to a power tussle and big exits later, as was witnessed in Jharkhand recently between JMM's Hemant Soren and Champai Soren, and in Bihar in 2014 after JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar reclaimed the top seat from Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Will elections be held early?
Currently, the term of the Delhi Legislative Assembly is set to end in February 2025.
However, the EC has the authority to call for early elections if it deems it necessary due to extraordinary circumstances.
Kejriwal's call for elections in November 2024 aligns with the electoral calendar of other states, such as Maharashtra and Jharkhand, which could provide a strategic advantage for AAP if they can capitalise on a broader anti-establishment sentiment.
However, the EC has historically preferred to adhere to established electoral timelines unless there is a compelling reason to intervene. The poll panel usually assesses the stability of governance.
The AAP currently commands a majority in the legislative assembly, occupying a whopping 62 of the 70 seats.
While Kejriwal's resignation may create a political vacuum, it does not automatically trigger immediate or even preponed elections.
'Why not resign today', asks BJP; AAP replies
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been vocal in its criticism of Kejriwal, labeling his resignation a "PR stunt" aimed at salvaging his image amid corruption allegations. It also questioned the timeframe of the resignation.
The BJP has a well-established political infrastructure in Delhi, and if elections are held, it could potentially benefit from a divided electorate, especially if AAP's internal dynamics lead to a weakened campaign.
"This 48-hour time which he (Arvind Kejriwal) has sought is enshrined in mystery ... Why are you (Arvind Kejriwal) talking about resigning after coming out and what is the matter after 48 hours? The people of the country and Delhi want to know what is the secret of 48 hours, what all is to be settled in 48 hours?" BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said at a press conference.
"It is ridiculous for a CM who is having overwhelming majority in the Assembly. If he is having an iota of truth in his intentions and in what he is saying, then he should call the meeting of the Cabinet, resign as CM and recommend the dissolution of the Assembly," he added.
Reacting to the BJP's allegations, AAP leader Atishi said there was a very simple reason behind the 48-hour time-frame. "Today is Sunday and it is Eid on Monday, so the next working day will be Tuesday," she said at a press conference.
A PR stunt, a gimmick: BJP and Congress attack Kejriwal
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed that Kejriwal wants to apply the "Sonia Gandhi model, where she made Manmohan Singh a dummy Prime Minister and ran the government from behind the scenes".
"This is a PR stunt of Arvind Kejriwal. He has understood that his image among the people of Delhi is not of an honest leader but of a corrupt leader, today Aam Aadmi Party is known across the country as a corrupt party. Under his PR stunt, he wants to restore his image...It is clear that he wants to apply the Sonia Gandhi model, where she made Manmohan Singh a dummy Prime Minister and ran the government from behind the scenes. They have understood today that the Aam Aadmi Party is losing the Delhi elections and the people of Delhi cannot vote in their name, so they want to make someone else a scapegoat," Bhandari said.
BJP leader Harish Khurana asked the Delhi Chief Minister why he did not resign when he was in jail for the past 6 months.
"If he wants to resign, then why not today? This is a drama that he will ask the people. The people are asking you if the court has given a verdict that you can't go to the Secretariat, you cannot sign a file, then what is your justification to be in the CM position?... You are a CM on bail. You are not acquitted, you are a CM who is on trial... You didn't resign when all work in Delhi stopped and you were in jail for 6 months," Khurana said.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that Kejriwal is not sacrificing anything and is forced to resign due to the Supreme Court's order. Sirsa further claimed that Kejriwal had asked for two days to convince all MLAs to make his wife the Chief Minister of Delhi.
"Arvind Kejriwal has announced that he will resign after two days and become the CM again when he gets a verdict from the people... This is not a sacrifice, the Supreme Court has said in the order that he cannot go near the CM's chair and cannot sign any files. Hence, you don't have an option, you are forced to resign because of the SC order. The people gave their verdict 3 months ago when you asked 'jail or bail', you lost all 7 (Lok Sabha seats in Delhi) and were sent to jail... Now he has asked for a two-day time because he is convincing all MLAs to make his wife the CM... He is forced to leave his chair because he is involved in the liquor scam," Sirsa said.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit reacted to the Delhi CM 's resignation and dubbed it a "gimmick," adding that this had happened for the first time when an elected leader came out of jail on bail and was asked by the SC to not go to the CMO or sign any papers.
"There is no question of becoming the CM again. We have been saying this for a long time that he should resign as the CM... This is a mere gimmick. This happened for the first time when an elected leader came out of jail on bail, and was asked by the SC to not go to the CMO or sign any papers... Such conditions were never imposed on any other CM... Maybe even the SC fears that this person might try to tamper with the evidence... The SC is treating him like a criminal... There is no correlation of morality and Arvind Kejriwal," Dikshit told ANI.
"I am going to resign from the CM position after two days. I will not sit on the CM's chair. In a few months, elections will be held in Delhi, and I want to make an appeal to the people. If you think Kejriwal is honest, then vote for me," Kejriwal told party workers, days after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the excise policy case.
Read also: If Arvind Kejriwal steps aside as Delhi CM, who could take over? Here are the top candidates
"If you think Kejriwal is guilty, then don't vote for me. Your every vote will be a certificate of my honesty. If you vote for me and declare that Kejriwal is honest, then only after the elections will I sit on the CM's chair. Until then, I will not sit on the CM's chair. I want to give 'agnipariksha' after coming out of jail," he added.
" Delhi elections are due in February but I demand that elections in the national capital be held in November with Maharashtra," he said.
Kejriwal further indicated that his deputy Manish Sisodia will also return to office only after the people give a verdict in his favour. "I will become chief minister and Manish Sisodia deputy CM only when people say we are honest," said the CM.
Referring to when he quit the chief minister's post in 2014 over the Jan Lokpal Bill, just 49 days after assuming power, Kejriwal said, "I resigned then for my ideals. I do not have a lust for power."
Commenting on why he didn't resign after he was arrested in March, Kejriwal said: "I didn't resign (after arrest in excise policy case) because I respect democracy and the Constitution is supreme for me."
Strategic move or big risk?
Kejriwal framed his recent announcement as a moral stand, suggesting that he will not occupy the CM chair until he receives a "certificate of honesty" from the electorate.
Election experts said the move is likely aimed at addressing growing concerns about corruption and governance under Kejriwal's leadership and also serves to rally the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its supporters around a narrative of integrity and accountability.
Hats off sir @ArvindKejriwal for your decision to step down as Chief Minister, placing your political future in the hands of the public, is a powerful demonstration of your commitment to honest politics. Your call for the people of Delhi to decide your fate through their votes,…
— Amit Palekar (@AmitPalekar10) September 15, 2024
AAP Goa head Amit Palekar said in a post on X: "Hats off sir @ArvindKejriwal for your decision to step down as Chief Minister, placing your political future in the hands of the public, is a powerful demonstration of your commitment to honest politics. Your call for the people of Delhi to decide your fate through their votes, rather than clinging to power, highlights your integrity and transparency."
Kejriwal's resignation will however mean that the party will have to choose a placeholder CM, and probably also a deputy CM, till the time elections are held.
Choosing a CM for just a few months has often led to a power tussle and big exits later, as was witnessed in Jharkhand recently between JMM's Hemant Soren and Champai Soren, and in Bihar in 2014 after JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar reclaimed the top seat from Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Will elections be held early?
Currently, the term of the Delhi Legislative Assembly is set to end in February 2025.
However, the EC has the authority to call for early elections if it deems it necessary due to extraordinary circumstances.
Kejriwal's call for elections in November 2024 aligns with the electoral calendar of other states, such as Maharashtra and Jharkhand, which could provide a strategic advantage for AAP if they can capitalise on a broader anti-establishment sentiment.
However, the EC has historically preferred to adhere to established electoral timelines unless there is a compelling reason to intervene. The poll panel usually assesses the stability of governance.
The AAP currently commands a majority in the legislative assembly, occupying a whopping 62 of the 70 seats.
While Kejriwal's resignation may create a political vacuum, it does not automatically trigger immediate or even preponed elections.
'Why not resign today', asks BJP; AAP replies
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been vocal in its criticism of Kejriwal, labeling his resignation a "PR stunt" aimed at salvaging his image amid corruption allegations. It also questioned the timeframe of the resignation.
The BJP has a well-established political infrastructure in Delhi, and if elections are held, it could potentially benefit from a divided electorate, especially if AAP's internal dynamics lead to a weakened campaign.
"This 48-hour time which he (Arvind Kejriwal) has sought is enshrined in mystery ... Why are you (Arvind Kejriwal) talking about resigning after coming out and what is the matter after 48 hours? The people of the country and Delhi want to know what is the secret of 48 hours, what all is to be settled in 48 hours?" BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said at a press conference.
"It is ridiculous for a CM who is having overwhelming majority in the Assembly. If he is having an iota of truth in his intentions and in what he is saying, then he should call the meeting of the Cabinet, resign as CM and recommend the dissolution of the Assembly," he added.
Reacting to the BJP's allegations, AAP leader Atishi said there was a very simple reason behind the 48-hour time-frame. "Today is Sunday and it is Eid on Monday, so the next working day will be Tuesday," she said at a press conference.
A PR stunt, a gimmick: BJP and Congress attack Kejriwal
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed that Kejriwal wants to apply the "Sonia Gandhi model, where she made Manmohan Singh a dummy Prime Minister and ran the government from behind the scenes".
"This is a PR stunt of Arvind Kejriwal. He has understood that his image among the people of Delhi is not of an honest leader but of a corrupt leader, today Aam Aadmi Party is known across the country as a corrupt party. Under his PR stunt, he wants to restore his image...It is clear that he wants to apply the Sonia Gandhi model, where she made Manmohan Singh a dummy Prime Minister and ran the government from behind the scenes. They have understood today that the Aam Aadmi Party is losing the Delhi elections and the people of Delhi cannot vote in their name, so they want to make someone else a scapegoat," Bhandari said.
BJP leader Harish Khurana asked the Delhi Chief Minister why he did not resign when he was in jail for the past 6 months.
"If he wants to resign, then why not today? This is a drama that he will ask the people. The people are asking you if the court has given a verdict that you can't go to the Secretariat, you cannot sign a file, then what is your justification to be in the CM position?... You are a CM on bail. You are not acquitted, you are a CM who is on trial... You didn't resign when all work in Delhi stopped and you were in jail for 6 months," Khurana said.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that Kejriwal is not sacrificing anything and is forced to resign due to the Supreme Court's order. Sirsa further claimed that Kejriwal had asked for two days to convince all MLAs to make his wife the Chief Minister of Delhi.
"Arvind Kejriwal has announced that he will resign after two days and become the CM again when he gets a verdict from the people... This is not a sacrifice, the Supreme Court has said in the order that he cannot go near the CM's chair and cannot sign any files. Hence, you don't have an option, you are forced to resign because of the SC order. The people gave their verdict 3 months ago when you asked 'jail or bail', you lost all 7 (Lok Sabha seats in Delhi) and were sent to jail... Now he has asked for a two-day time because he is convincing all MLAs to make his wife the CM... He is forced to leave his chair because he is involved in the liquor scam," Sirsa said.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit reacted to the Delhi CM 's resignation and dubbed it a "gimmick," adding that this had happened for the first time when an elected leader came out of jail on bail and was asked by the SC to not go to the CMO or sign any papers.
"There is no question of becoming the CM again. We have been saying this for a long time that he should resign as the CM... This is a mere gimmick. This happened for the first time when an elected leader came out of jail on bail, and was asked by the SC to not go to the CMO or sign any papers... Such conditions were never imposed on any other CM... Maybe even the SC fears that this person might try to tamper with the evidence... The SC is treating him like a criminal... There is no correlation of morality and Arvind Kejriwal," Dikshit told ANI.
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