Suspense over new CM as Kejriwal holds one-on-one meetings with AAP leaders

Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Monday held a series of meetings to discuss probables for the Chief Minister’s post, a day before party MLAs meet to finalise a successor for Arvind Kejriwal, who is likely to tender his resignation to Lt-Governor VK Saxena at 4.30 pm on Tuesday.

Days after being released from Tihar jail on bail, the AAP national convener said on Sunday that he would resign within 48 hours and sought early polls in Delhi.

The AAP held a series of meetings on Monday as Kejriwal sought feedback from members of the Political Affairs Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body, on his successor in one-on-one meetings.

Earlier in the day, the AAP supremo met senior leaders, including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha, about the party’s choice for Chief Minister.

Names of Delhi ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot and Saurabh Bharadwaj are making the rounds as contenders, party insiders said and added that Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal and Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel were also probables.

Kejriwal will meet the L-G at 4.30 pm on Tuesday and is likely to tender his resignation.

Before this meeting, the AAP will hold a legislative party meeting at 11.30 am to zero in on its pick for Chief Minister.

The BJP on Monday said Kejriwal’s decision to resign as Chief Minister was borne out of “compulsion” and not driven by “principle”. The saffron party has described his move as “drama” and a “confession of crime” and wondered if he had offered to quit because of infighting in AAP.

“The Supreme Court has clearly pointed out that he cannot go to his office, cannot sign any file, then what choice did Kejriwal have?” BJP Delhi president Virender Sachdeva asked.

The Delhi Assembly’s term ends on February 23 and the polls are expected to be held in early February. As AAP leaders huddled to choose the next CM, the names of some prominent MLAs, including those from the reserved category and the minority community, also made the rounds throughout the day. Nothing is decided as yet, AAP insiders said.

However, there is speculation that AAP may project some Dalit or Muslim legislator to hold the CM’s post in view of the Assembly polls, they said.

There are 12 reserved constituencies and nearly half a dozen seats with significant minority populations in the city. Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birla, who is also the Deputy Speaker in the Assembly, and Kondli legislator Kuldeep Kumar are potential candidates, they added.

The AAP sources said the surprise candidate could also be a member of the minority community as the party has witnessed its support among the community wavering since the 2020 Delhi riots.

In such a scenario, Delhi minister Imran Hussain may be the surprise face, they added.

‘AAP supremo had no choice’

The Supreme Court has clearly pointed out that he cannot go to his office, cannot sign any file, then what choice did Kejriwal have? — Virender Sachdeva, BJP Delhi president