Kejriwal resigns as Delhi CM after choosing Atishi as replacement
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal officially resigned from his position as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Tuesday evening. This comes four days after his release on bail in the liquor policy case. Kejriwal met with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena at his residence to tender his resignation and recommend colleague Atishi for the role. Accompanying him was his former deputy Manish Sisodia, who was also implicated in the same case and is currently out on bail.
Atishi vows to defend AAP, ensure Kejriwal's return
Following her nomination, Atishi expressed her commitment to the people of Delhi and the AAP. She pledged to work toward ensuring victory in the upcoming Delhi election and facilitating Kejriwal's return to power. "Delhi has only one Chief Minister...and that is Kejriwal," she stated. The senior AAP leader also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pursuing "fake charges" against Kejriwal, vowing to defend her party against such "conspiracies."
Atishi's unanimous selection
Atishi was unanimously selected as the leader of AAP's legislative party earlier on Tuesday, positioning her to replace Kejriwal until the next Assembly election in February. However, Kejriwal has called for an early election, possibly as soon as next month. Atishi is a senior AAP leader and currently serves as Delhi's Education and Public Works Minister. Her appointment makes her the third woman to hold the position of Chief Minister in Delhi's history.
BJP MP criticizes Kejriwal's resignation,
Meanwhile, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has criticized Kejriwal's decision to step down as Chief Minister. He argued that the resignation cannot compensate for the damage done to Delhi under his leadership. Tiwari also predicted more departures from AAP in the future, stating that "Many from Kejriwal's team have left, and more will follow."
