Arvind Kejriwal to resign today, calls meeting of AAP MLAs to elect next Delhi CM

Hectic parleys marked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal’s day as he commenced the search for his successor after seeking to meet Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to tender his resignation from the Chief Minister’s post.

Editorial: Kejriwal’s gamble

The L-G has called Kejriwal at 4.30 pm on Tuesday for a meeting in which the CM is likely to put in his papers. Days after being released from Tihar Jail on bail in the excise policy case, the AAP national convener said on Sunday that he would resign within 48 hours and sought early elections in Delhi. He vowed not to sit in the Chief Minister’s chair till people gave him a “certificate of honesty”.

Top contenders for post

• Atishi, who currently holds the maximum portfolios in the Delhi Cabinet
• Saurabh Bharadwaj, who holds the key Health Department among other ministries
• Both Atishi and Bharadwaj were the face of the Delhi Government amid Kejriwal’s incarceration
• Gopal Rai (Environment) and Kailash Gahlot (Transport) too are in the race
• Rakhi Birla, a Dalit leader and the Assembly Deputy Speaker, could be the surprise pick

The AAP supremo sought an appointment with the L-G after holding closed-door discussions with his aide and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on potential CM-ship nominees.

Later in the day, Kejriwal chaired a meeting of the party’s political affairs committee (PAC) to take feedback on the next CM face. On Tuesday morning, Kejriwal has also convened a meeting of AAP MLAs, who are likely to elect the new CM.

Kejriwal along with Sisodia, ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi and Kailash Gahlot, among others, were present at the PAC meeting. He is learnt to have held one-on-one meetings with all PAC members. After the meeting, Bharadwaj said Kejriwal took feedback from all leaders. He also said the CM would submit his resignation to the L-G tomorrow.

“CM Kejriwal held one-on-one discussions with each of the leaders and ministers present in the meeting. Tomorrow, a meeting of the legislature party will be held and this discussion will be taken to the next phase by the CM,” said Bharadwaj.

Meanwhile, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak, who was visiting poll-bound Haryana, said, “The next Delhi CM will be decided over the next day or two. There will be a meeting of the legislative party in which the CM will be selected... Kejriwal is not attracted to power, he loves his honour the most.”