Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 15: After resisting for six months the BJP’s demand for his resignation when he was in Tihar jail, the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, two days after his release from jail on securing conditional bail from the Supreme Court, announced his decision to step down from the chief minister’s office in the next two days, a decision which came as a shock for his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and even surprised his opponents BJP and the Congress.
Announcing his shock decision at a party workers’ meeting on Sunday afternoon, Mr Kejriwal said he would demand an early poll in Delhi saying he did not have a lust for power while vowing not to sit in CM’s chair till people give him a “certificate of honesty.” “Delhi elections are due in February, but I demand elections in the national capital be held in November with Maharashtra,” Mr Kejriwal said.
“Two days later, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not sit on that chair till the people announce their verdict. Elections in Delhi are months away. I got justice from the legal court, now I will get justice from the people’s court. I will sit on the Chief Minister’s chair only after the order of the people,” he said. “I want to ask the people of Delhi, is Kejriwal innocent or guilty? If I have worked, vote for me,” he said, adding that a meeting of AAP MLAs will be held within the next two days to choose the new Chief Minister for the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said a member of the party will be named Chief Minister after his resignation. He said he would go among the people and ask for their support.
In his address to the AAP workers, Mr Kejriwal launched an all-out attack against the Narendra Modi government and said it was more dictatorial than the British. He said he did not resign as Chief Minister despite being arrested because he wanted to save democracy. “They have registered cases against (Karnataka Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah, (Kerala Chief Minister) Pinarayi Vijayan, (Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata didi (Banerjee). I want to appeal to non-BJP, do not resign if they register cases against you. This is their new game,” he said.
Mr Kejriwal said he had also spoken to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia about the issue. Mr Sisodia too was recently granted bail in connection with corruption allegations surrounding Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy. “I spoke to Manish, he too has said that he will handle the post only after the people say we are honest. My and Sisodia’s fate are in your hands now,” he said.
According to sources in the AAP, Mr Kejriwal held a meeting with top party leaders yesterday and told them that he had decided to announce his resignation. At another meeting at Mr Sisodia’s residence, AAP leaders chalked out the strategy behind this move.
Mr Kejriwal said he wanted to give “agnipariksha” after coming out of jail. “Today, they are afraid of our honesty because they are not honest. I did not become a part of this game of ‘power from money and money from power’. I got justice from the court of law, now, the court of the people will give me justice. Now, I will sit on the chair of Chief Minister again only after the decision of the people of Delhi,” Mr Kejriwal said.
Referring to letters written by Bhagat Singh in British captivity, Mr Kejriwal said, “Our freedom fighters allowed meetings with colleagues; but my party colleague Sandeep Pathak was not allowed to meet me. I wrote only one letter to L-G (Lieutenant Governor) from Tihar.” Mr Kejriwal expressed hope for Satyendar Jain and Amanatullah Khan, who are still in jail, to be released soon.
Responding to the shocking development, BJP’s Harish Khurana questioned why the AAP leader is creating a drama. “Why after 48 hours? he should resign today. In the past too, he has done this. People of Delhi are asking, he can’t go to the secretariat, can’t sign documents, What is the point then?” Asked if the BJP was ready for early polls, Mr Khurana replied, “We are ready, whether it is today or tomorrow. We will return to power in Delhi after 25 years.”
Addressing the media, Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva said Mr Kejriwal is saying the people should decide if he should be Chief Minister. “The people have announced their verdict three months back (during Lok Sabha polls). You had roamed Delhi streets and asked for votes. The people gave their answer and put you in your place,” he said.
The Delhi Congress welcomed Mr Kejriwal’s resignation, saying it was better late than never. “It would have been better if he had resigned when Delhi was facing floods and drinking water shortage. I hope Delhi soon gets a new chief minister who can go to his office and sign files,” said Delhi Congress chief Devendra Yadav.
Mr Sachdeva slammed the Delhi Chief Minister and alleged that his corruption has hollowed out governance in the national capital. “You didn’t resign when in jail, but are now announcing that you will resign in 48 hours? People want to know the mystery behind these 48 hours. You don’t have to discharge duties of the Chief Minister, why do you need 48 hours?” he asked.
The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Mr Kejriwal in a corruption case linked to Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy, six months after his arrest. The court has, however, imposed several conditions on the AAP leader. He cannot enter the Chief Minister’s office and sign official documents unless necessary to obtain the Lieutenant Governor’s sanctions.
“What is the personal work for which you are seeking 48 hours? His resignation announcement is his confession. Another suspicion arises. You are demanding an early election. Maybe this talk of a poll battle is coming from a battle within your party that you feel you cannot handle. What is the desperation behind this resignation talk?” The BJP MP said Mr Kejriwal is still the Delhi Chief Minister and has a huge majority in the Assembly. “If you want polls, call a cabinet meeting, dissolve the Assembly. What’s there to demand?”
The Congress, which fought the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi in alliance with AAP, described the Chief Minister’s resignation announcement as a “political stunt.” Mr Yadav said Mr Kejriwal resigned because he has no powers as Chief Minister and is bound by the Supreme Court’s conditions. “This is a political stunt and nothing else. This will have no impact on the upcoming elections. People want change now,” he said.
Explaining Mr Kejriwal’s announcement, Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Arvind Kejriwal has faith in the public. He is known for taking risks. He quit his Income Tax department job and worked in Delhi’s shanties for 10 years. He did not know then that AAP would be formed and he would become Chief Minister.”
Giving reasons for his seeking 48 hours’ time before resigning, another Delhi minister Atishi said today being Sunday and Monday being holiday on account of Eid-e-Milad, Mr Kejriwl has sought two days’ time. There was no need for any speculation by the BJP, she said.
Atishi said it was important to understand the man Arvind Kejriwal to understand his decision. “He left the Income Tax commissioner job because he wanted to work for the country. He started AAP from zero because he wanted corruption-free politics. When he could not bring a law against corruption, he resigned. Now imagine how he feels when he is accused of corruption, how he feels that maybe people are talking behind his back. His biggest asset is his honesty, and he has relied on that honesty to make this announcement. Is there another politician or party in this country who has the guts to throw a challenge like this?” she asked.
