New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to tender his resignation to Lt. Governor VK Saxena today, following his announcement to step down within 48 hours after being released from jail on bail in the excise policy case. Kejriwal, who vowed not to return to the chief minister’s chair until granted a “certificate of honesty” by the people, has been consulting senior party members to decide on his successor. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held several key meetings on Monday, where Kejriwal engaged in one-on-one discussions with Political Affairs Committee members, including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha.
Speculation is rife over potential candidates for the CM post, with names like ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, and Saurabh Bharadwaj surfacing. Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal and Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel are also being considered. There is also growing discussion about whether AAP might appoint a Dalit or Muslim leader, such as Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birla or minister Imran Hussain, in light of upcoming assembly elections.
The BJP has criticized Kejriwal’s decision to resign, calling it a “compulsion” rather than a principled act, suggesting internal rifts within the AAP. The next legislative meeting is scheduled for today, with Kejriwal expected to meet the Lt. Governor by late afternoon.
