Arvind Kejriwal to Resign As Delhi CM, Calls For Early Polls In November

New Delhi: Chief Minister of New Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal , who has been released on conditional bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi Excise Policy Case, has announced his resignation. The Delhi CM's announcement of stepping down from the position has been a rather shocking one, and has come during his first address after getting bail.

Speaking to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and leaders, Kejriwal said, “I am going to resign from the CM's chair after 2 days from today”, this announcement has shocked many in the party and outside it. 

Announcing the resignation, Kejriwal also called for an early election in Delhi, demanding that polls be held in November 2024, alongside Maharashtra . While Delhi's elections are officially due in February 2025, Kejriwal expressed his desire for an expedited timeline: “Delhi elections are due in February, but I demand elections in the national capital be held in November with Maharashtra,” he said.

Kejriwal, reflecting on his time in jail, mentioned why he chose not to resign during that period despite pressure from the Bhartiya Janta Party. “People asked me why I didn’t resign when I was in jail. The BJP demanded my resignation, but I didn’t step down because I wanted to save the country’s democracy,” he said.

Kejriwal also talked about the severity of the charges brought against him, claiming that under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), bail was unlikely. However, the Supreme Court granted him bail.

“Action was taken against us under PMLA, in which we shouldn’t even have gotten bail, but the court granted it. I consulted my lawyer and told him that I will not sit on the CM’s chair until the case is completely over. But my lawyer told me that the case could last for 10 to 20 years,” he said.

Kejriwal took a sharp jab at the BJP -led central government, accusing them of misusing investigative agencies to target opposition leaders. He said that the BJP ’s primary goal is to weaken opposition parties through agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). “Their job is to send ED, CBI and buy MLAs, but Aam Aadmi Party is the only party that is not afraid,” he said while addressing party members.