Arvind Kejriwal to Resign as Delhi CM in 2 Days, Demands Early Elections

New Delhi: In his first speech after being released on bail from Tihar Jail, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal announced his decision to step down as Delhi Chief Minister. He confirmed that a legislative party meeting will be held within two days to select his successor.

Kejriwal also demanded that the upcoming Delhi elections, originally scheduled for February, be held alongside Maharashtra’s elections in November. “I demand that Delhi elections be conducted with Maharashtra’s. Until then, someone from AAP will take over as Chief Minister,” he said.

Kejriwal was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday in a corruption case related to the now-defunct liquor policy. He joins other leaders who have received bail in the case, including AAP’s Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Vijay Nair, and Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s (BRS) K Kavitha.

“I will resign in two days and not assume the role of Chief Minister until the people deliver their verdict. I will go door-to-door and to every street to campaign,” Kejriwal stated.

He confirmed that the new Chief Minister will be chosen during an upcoming cabinet meeting, ruling out Manish Sisodia for the position. Kejriwal clarified that his earlier refusal to resign was aimed at protecting democracy. He also urged non-BJP leaders to resist resigning if legal cases were filed against them, citing cases against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee as part of a new political strategy.

Kejriwal slammed the central government, comparing its actions to a dictatorship worse than British colonial rule.

He also shared his prison experience, stating he only wrote one letter to the Lieutenant Governor seeking permission for AAP leader Atishi to hoist the flag on Independence Day, which was denied.