Arvind Kejriwal submitted his resignation to Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena on September 17. A close confidant of the outgoing chief minister – Adhishi, nominated by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs to succeed Kejriwal – has staked claim to become the next chief minister and form the government in the national capital.
Four days after Kejriwal walked out of Tihar jail following the Supreme Court order granting him bail in a money laundering case registered by the CBI, Delhi politics has been rocked. Kejriwal also got bail in another case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the central agency that arrested him nearly six months ago in March.
What next for Aam Aadmi Government, Adhishi and Arvind Kejriwal?
Poll Season for CM of Delhi
The change of power in Delhi comes at a crucial time. Not only because the entire top leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party – Kejriwal, Sisodia and Sanjay Singh – is facing money laundering charges in the Delhi excise policy case, but also because the national capital is due to go for assembly elections in February, 2025.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal has sought early elections sometime in November, coinciding with the Maharashtra polls. Both Kejriwal and his former chauvinist Sisodia have said they will go to the people to seek support and will return to the top post only after the people’s verdict is ratified.
While securing the chief minister’s post is a milestone in her career and an opportunity to prove her leadership skills, it comes with several challenges for Atishi, who is a first-time MLA. Despite this, she had an advisory and ministerial role in the outgoing Kejriwal government.
Claim for Government
Along with Kejriwal, his cabinet also resigned. LG Kejriwal will send his ministerial resignation and Atishi’s demand to the President of India. Once approved, the President will send it back to the LG, who will then invite the new chief minister to take oath.
Atishi should also form a new cabinet.
After taking charge, 43-year-old Atishi will become the third woman chief minister of Delhi. She will join the likes of late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and senior Congress leader late Sheila Dixit.
By choosing a woman chief minister, Kejriwal is not only doing his best but also wooing women voters. Adishi, who was Delhi’s finance minister, had announced a monthly stipend of ₹1,000 from Aam Aadmi Party for women voters in the budget in March this year.
“A woman leading the Delhi government could make a difference to the women constituencies that Kejriwal is actively reaching out to,” author and political analyst Neerja Chowdhary said in an article in The Indian Express on Monday.
Apart from the ₹1,000 monthly stipend for women voters, Aadishi should work on formulating an EV policy, water bill settlement scheme and some government schemes. Also, when the elections are coming up in a big way, it will not be easy as the BJP will attack the opposition.
“In the next few months, the BJP will try its best to end the facilities provided by Kejriwal ji by harming the people of Delhi. There is an attempt to stop free electricity. There is an attempt to destroy schools and hospitals. There is an attempt to stop free medicines. There will be an attempt to stop the cleaning of drains and sewers. It is the responsibility of Aadishi ji to save the people of Delhi from this terror of the BJP. I am confident that Aadishi ji will carry out these difficult responsibilities well. My heartiest wishes to Aadishi ji,” former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia posted on Twitter.
Atishi Vs L-G? for CM Position!
Changing the chief minister a few months before the elections can also be seen as a stopgap arrangement.
Based on the past experience of Delhi’s power structure, the transfer of power comes with a burden on the heads, and is characterised by the adversarial relationship of the elected government with the Lieutenant Governor (LG) appointed by the central government.
By resigning, Kejriwal has ruled out the possibility of the LG or the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) advising the President to impose President’s rule.
Kejriwal, Sisodia for larger roles
By quitting the chief minister’s chair amid corruption allegations against him and his party leaders, Kejriwal aims to garner sympathy and restore moral ground for both leaders. He and other party leaders will now be freed of governance responsibilities and focus on organisation and election campaigning.
Kejriwal has also sidestepped potential controversies that may arise from him calling meetings, seeking files or taking a decision on the Supreme Court order on bail conditions.
The current term of the Delhi assembly ends in February 2025. Kejriwal’s demand for early elections in November 2024 along with Maharashtra and Jharkhand will probably not be accepted. If that happens, it could capitalise on widespread anti-BJP sentiment to give the AAP a strategic advantage in the Delhi elections.
CM or no CM, ultimately Kejriwal is the boss of AAP.
A woman to head the Delhi government could make a difference to the women’s constituency.
“Prime Minister or not, Kejriwal will ultimately be the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party. His departure will not benefit the party, but will not harm it either,” said Rahul Verma, political analyst and fellow at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR).
