New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal has sought time from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on September 17, two days after he announced that he will resign from the post of Chief Minister within 48 hours. Kejriwal’s resignation bombshell came as a shock as he even continued his role from behind the bars when he was lodged in Tihar jail for 155 days in Delhi Excise Policy Scam case. What adds more surprise to the announcement is the fact that it coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
The meeting between Delhi L-G and Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to be held tomorrow at 4:30 pm at L-G Secretariat in New Delhi. Kejriwal is expected to tender his resignation during the meet.
"Now until the people of Delhi give their decision, I will not sit on the Chief Minister's chair. I will resign from the post of Chief Minister after 2 days from today," Arvind Kejriwal announced at a meeting with party workers on September 15.
Kejriwal, who was released on bail from Tihar on Friday (September 13) in the excise policy corruption case, said, "I will only sit on CM's chair after people give me a certificate of honesty. Want to give 'agnipariksha' after coming out of jail. I will become chief minister, Sisodia deputy CM only when people say we are honest."
Kejriwal had been facing repeated calls for resignation from Opposition, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when he got arrested by two probe agencies ED and CBI in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case. However, he remained firm and continued to run the government from behind the bars.
Explaining why he did not resign, Arvind Kejriwal said, "I didn't resign (after arrest in excise policy case) because I respect democracy and the Constitution is supreme for me."
CM's Resignation On PM's Birthday
On one hand, AAP is preparing for a big shift in power and all eyes on the next face who will be elected as the Delhi CM. On the other hand the saffron camp has mega plans to celebrate PM Modi's 74th birthday on September 17. The two big political events coincide on the same day.
PM Narendra Modi on his birthday will visit Odisha to initiate the 'Subhadra Yojana.' The process begins on September 17, with around 1 crore 30 lakh women set to receive the first installment of Rs 5,000 through the Subhadra Yojana.
Only one week left, Coming soon! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PM NARENDRA MODI JI♥️🥳#NarendraModi#PMModiji#HappyBirthdayPmModipic.twitter.com/09IcE39uTn
— Know The Nation (@knowthenation) September 10, 2024
The BJP will be launching "sewa pakhwada" on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17. For the fortnight-long campaign that will end on October 2, the party has constituted a nine-member committee, headed by national general secretary Sunil Bansal to oversee the sewa pakhwada.
An exhibition showcasing Mr Modi’s achievements, along with various competitions on themes like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047, have also been asked to include in the 15-day-long celebrations. The BJP leaders have also been asked to hold the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign to encourage plantations. These events will be organised in all districts around the country.
Who Will Be The Next Delhi CM?
Arvind Kejriwal said he will only sit on CM's chair "when people say we are honest" and announced that a party leader will be named as the next CM of Delhi after his resignation.
Arvind Kejriwal today held a closed-door meeting with former deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Monday, to choose the next chief minister of Delhi. Some key names who are in the focus are- Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Raghav Chaddha, Kailash Gahlot and Gopal Rai
Kejriwal also called for preponement of Delhi elections, which are scheduled for February next year, to be held with Maharashtra elections.
The term of the Delhi Assembly ends on February 23 next year and the polls are expected to be held sometime early February. Kejriwal demanded that polls in Delhi be held in November alongside Maharashtra. The term of the Maharashtra Assembly ends on November 26. The final decision will, however, rest with the Election Commission on when to hold the polls.