New Delhi: AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal while addressing party workers on Sunday announced that he would resign as Delhi chief minister in two days. Speaking to party workers, he said, “I will not sit on that chair until the people give their verdict. The elections in Delhi are still months away, but I will seek justice from the people’s court.” Kejriwal’s decision comes after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a case related to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.
Kejriwal further explained that a party member would be appointed chief minister following his resignation and he intends to go directly to the public for support. He also demanded that the Delhi elections, originally scheduled for February 2025, be moved forward to November to coincide with the Maharashtra polls.
Who will be next Delhi CM?
According to an NDTV report, Arvind Kejriwal informed top party leaders of his decision to resign during a meeting held yesterday. AAP leaders also strategised about this move during a separate meeting at Manish Sisodia’s residence.
The question on everyone’s mind now is who could be the next chief minister of Delhi after Arvind Kejriwal. Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has reportedly ruled himself out of the race, saying that he would only take on the role if the people affirm that they trust his honesty.
Contenders for the position include
Atishi – She currently oversees five portfolios: Women and Child Development, Education, Tourism, Art, Culture and Language, Public Works Department, and Power.
Kailash Gahlot – He manages eight departments: Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs, Transport, Administrative Reforms, IT, Revenue, Finance, Planning, as well as all other departments not specifically assigned to other ministers.
Saurabh Bharadwaj – He is responsible for seven departments: Vigilance, Services, Health, Industries, Urban Development, Irrigation and Flood Control, and Water.
Gopal Rai – He serves as the minister for Development, General Administration, Environment, and Forest and Wildlife in the national capital.
Imran Hussain – He oversees the Food and Supply and Election departments in Delhi.
Another potential candidate for the next chief minister of Delhi is Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Arvind Kejriwal. There were speculations that Sunita might be appointed as CM following Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and imprisonment, but it did not materialise. With the next assembly elections in Delhi just five months away, she could be the next CM, as there would be no requirement for her to be first elected as an MLA.
The BJP has also indicated that the 48-hour period during which Kejriwal sought to resign will be used to “convince all MLAs to support Sunita Kejriwal as the chief minister of Delhi.”
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged, “The Supreme Court’s order stipulates that he cannot go near the chief minister’s chair or sign any files. Therefore, he is compelled to resign due to the SC’s ruling. The people had their say three months ago when you chose ‘jail or bail’; you lost all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and were sent to jail. Now, he has requested a two-day extension as he tries to convince all the MLAs to make his wife the chief minister.”
