Kejriwal quits, picks Atishi
Almost six months after he was arrested for his alleged involvement in the excise policy “scam”, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday tendered his resignation to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, making way for Atishi who staked claim to form the government.
Atishi was elected Kejriwal’s successor at an AAP legislative party meeting held at the latter’s residence this morning. After the AAP chief proposed her name, the endorsement was unanimous.
Later in the day, Kejriwal and CM-designate Atishi visited the L-G’s residence to formalise the transition, with Atishi describing the moment as “emotional”.
Accompanying the duo were Delhi Cabinet ministers Imran Hussain, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot and Gopal Rai.
“Today, Arvind Kejriwal has submitted his resignation. This is an emotional moment for the party and the people of Delhi. Equally, the people are resolved to make Arvind Kejriwal the CM again. Until the next elections are held, and we stake a claim to form the next government, I will look after Delhi,” Atishi said after meeting the LG.
Even in the morning, Atishi made the right noises when she said her goal as CM would be the return of the AAP government in Delhi. “Make your son, your brother CM again,” she urged voters after being named Arvind’s replacement, even as she accused the BJP of peddling “fake charges” against the AAP supremo.
Atishi said she was happy at the trust reposed by Kejriwal and the party, but sad that “Delhi’s popular CM, her elder brother had to resign”.
Making it clear that she was a caretaker CM, Atishi urged workers, MLAs and the public not to congratulate or garland her. Calling Kejriwal her guru, she said, “I want to thank my guru, Arvind Kejriwal, for reposing faith in me by entrusting such a big responsibility. It can only happen in the AAP, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, that a first-time politician becomes the CM of a state,” she stated. “Delhi has only one CM, and that is Kejriwal,” she added, pledging to fight BJP’s “conspiracies.”
Events of the day capped dramatic developments that commenced on Sunday, when Kejriwal suddenly announced he would resign as CM and return only after people gave him a “certificate of honesty”.
Kejriwal said the same of his closest aide and former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, ruling him out of the CM race. Both are on bail in the excise scam case.
The AAP legislative party’s decision to elect Atishi was announced today by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai. “Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has submitted his resignation to the Governor. A meeting of AAP MLAs was held in the morning today, and everyone agreed to choose Atishi as the leader of the legislative party,” said Rai. AAP leaders, said a Delhi Assembly session had been scheduled for September 26 and 27.
