Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi Chief Minister, resigned from his post on September 17, 2024, marking a political development. The Aam Aadmi Party or AAP leader, who has been at the help of Delhi’s government since the year 2015, has been likeable to be a promising leader. But now he’s found to make the announcement in a press conference on Tuesday to resign. The decision of his resignation marks a turning point in the capital city’s (Delhi’s) political landscape. The former Chief Minister, before his resignation, declared the name of Atishi Marlena to now claim the seat of Chief Minister.
Atishi Marlena to hold the seat of Delhi Chief Minister.
The resignation letter from Arvind Kejriwal comes amidst growing pressure over ongoing legal battles along with allegations with respect to corruption cases. The reports indicated that while he has maintained his values, his decision to step down is seen as an attempt to ensure the smooth functioning of the Delhi government. Being the leader of the AAP, he has chosen Atishi as his successor, and this makes her the third woman to hold the Chief Ministerial office in the history of Delhi after Sheila Dikshit (who ruled for 15 years from the candidature of Congress) and Sushma Swaraj (BJP leader ruled and former union minister, taking office for 52 days).
प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी ने एक बहुत ही घिनौना राजनीतिक षड्यंत्र रचकर दिल्ली के मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल जी और आप के अन्य नेताओं के ऊपर झूँठे आरोप लगाये. जेल भेजा. ईमानदारी पर सवाल उठाए. सरकार तोड़ने की कोशिश की.
मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल जी ने दिलेरी के साथ मुख्यमंत्री पद से…
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) September 17, 2024The resignation
In Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation letter, he cited personal reasons and the need to focus on defending himself in court as his primary reasons for stepping down. He is found to express his gratitude to the people of Delhi for their constant support and belief in him during his nearly nine-year tenure as Chief Minister.
Kejriwal said to reporters, “I got justice from the legal court. Now I will get justice from the people’s court”. If the commoners choose him as their Chief Minister again, that will be the day to hold this position. Another reason for not considering himself as the Delhi Chief Minister lay in the Supreme Court’s judgement to not be enough to sign in any kind of official activities.
Resignation accepted. #Arvind_Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/FiImd6RzM6
— Megha Prasad (@MeghaSPrasad) September 17, 2024The decision made by Arvind Kejriwal to resign, though shocking for some, was not completely unexpected. During his arrest for 6 months (arrested on March 21, 2024, and released on September 13, 2024) in Tihar Jail, he faced a lot of scrutiny from opposition parties as well as legal authorities over alleged irregularities in the integration of policies during his administration. This, along with ongoing court cases, has placed pressure on the AAP leadership.
Why was Arvind Kejriwal jailed?
Arvind Kejriwal, the former Chief Minister of Delhi, has faced jail time because of his alleged involvement in the Delhi Liquor Policy scam. This case attracted media attention and also political controversy, especially from the ruling opposition party. The Delhi Excise Policy 2021-2022 was intended to reform the liquor distribution systems in the landmark of Delhi, but it soon became the centre of a high-profile inspection led by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) along with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This led to his imprisonment for 6 months in Tihar Jail, the first-ever arrest of a sitting chief minister.
A dramatic bail application and a sudden resignation by Arvind Kejriwal have proven to be astute traction in the past. Whether he will succeed again is a big question mark. First, Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, was arrested. Then, in the month of March, Kejriwal himself was taken into custody.
He got bail in the month of July 2024, but by then, he had been arrested by CBI. That bail plea was heard by the Supreme Court, and he was granted bail. He could technically stay on as chief minister but he could not visit the office, a condition by the top court. Due to this, he threw googly and announced that he would return only after he got an honesty certificate from the Delhi public.
Liquor policy case, a background
The government of Delhi in 2021, led by Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, introduced a new excise policy to overhaul the liquor sale system. The policy was solely meant to increase government revenue. This was supposed to be achieved by encouraging private players to take over the liquor distribution network in the city. Government-owned liquor stores were phased out and licences were granted to private ventures, too.
Arvind Kejriwal took minimum ₹100 cr as bribe in Liquor Scam and used it to fight Goa election against Congress.
— Congress leader Ajay Maken Ji pic.twitter.com/sivbKt21P6
— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) February 5, 2023Soon after the policy took place, it attracted the attention of investigative agencies like the ED and CBI. These bodies alleged that the policy was designed to benefit liquor manufacturers and distributors who were provided undue opportunities in exchange for kickbacks. These kickbacks were used to fund Arvind Kejriwal’s Party and their election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.
The agencies investigating the issue claimed that there were members of the Delhi government, including the then Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, were involved in drafting the policy. Their involvement was officially inspected to benefit select private players. Sisodia was arrested in 2023 following this. This followed increased pressure on Arvind Kejriwal since he was accused of being involved in the fraudulence.
What charges did Arvind Kejriwal face for his arrest?
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested after a number of significant questions by the ED and CBI. The charges against him particularity were related to corruption, money laundering, along misuse of power. The central agencies alleged that he had direct knowledge and approval of the corrupt activities associated with the excise policy. These allegations were found concretely on evidence-based sources like bank records, testimonies from officials involved in the policy and digital communications. The investigation agencies focused that funds obtained through kickbacks were routed through multiple shell companies along with used to finance the political activities of the AAP.
Introduction of Atishi Marlena
Atishi is currently serving as Minister for Education and the Environment of the Delhi Cabinet. She is very well known for her capability as a leader with a strong track record. Her work in transforming Delhi’s Education systems has earned her national recognition. She has now been selected as the Chief Minister of Delhi over potential leaders, including Sunita Kejriwal (Arvind Kejriwal’s wife), Raghav Chaddha, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, among others. At the age of 43, she will become the youngest Chief Minister in India.
By resigning as CM despite being the head of the party & having all the powers and passing his CM chair to a Young Committed Volunteer of His party, Atishi.
Arvind Kejriwal has proven again today that he is a Leader of Leaders🔥
Such a selfless leader❤️👌 pic.twitter.com/U9sVt2gIhf
— Gss🇮🇳 (@Gss_Views) September 17, 2024Atishi has been a potential figure in the AAP since its inception and she has been playing a vital role in forming the Party’s policies on education and governance. Her work on enhancing public schools in Delhi has been lauded by experts and citizens. This has definitely earned her much respect across political lines.
She has expressed her gratitude after the announcement by Arvind Kejriwal to become the next Chief Minister to the Party and the people in the capital city. Her appointment marks a holistic moment for Delhi, as she will become the third woman to hold the office of Chief Minister in Delhi. Her background as an education reformer is expected to resonate well with the middle-class voters in Delhi, who have solely supported AAP’s policies on education and social welfare.
Her sense of gratitude to the people of Delhi, she has also spoken about Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation. She said, “Until the time she will hold this responsibility as a Chief Minister, our commitment to bring Kejriwal back as Delhi leader will be a primary factor. Until the next Assembly of the vote, they will ensure the continuation of providing free electricity, good education and healthcare services”. She also added, “It is a bold decision taken by Arvind Kejriwal to avoid sitting in the Chief Managerial position. If there would have been any other leader, they would have not decided the same.”
Reasons why Atishi Marlena is the right choice to be the next Chief Minister in Delhi
There are mainly six reasons why Atishi could be the best choice to sit in Delhi’s Chief Managerial position, replacing Arvind Kejriwal.
Her leadership in a time of crises
Her rise to prominence accelerated after Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). She took care of a number of responsibilities of the Party and became a public figure. Atishi, alongside Saurabh Bharadwaj, led AAP’s campaign efforts during the Lok Sabha elections, becoming a promising figure in media appearances. She also made headlines in the mainstream for her protection against the Haryana Government’s water allocation to Delhi, which led to an indefinite hunger strike. Such crises over the capital city’s water supply demonstrated her ongoing effort to address primary issues.
Strong portfolio in the Delhi government
The selection of Atishi Marlena as the next CM after Arvind Kejriwal comes after a period of significant contributions of her to the AAP led leadership. Ever since she joined the Delhi cabinet on March 9 2023, she has managed 14 portfolios, which are education, finance, planning, WPD, power, water and public reactions. Her duties have been unmatched by any of her coworkers. This shows the trust and faith placed in her capability to prove herself to be a leader of Delhi.
आज दिल्ली के 2 करोड़ लोग बहुत दुखी हैं कि उनके लोकप्रिय मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल जी ने इस्तीफ़ा दे दिया है। आज से दिल्ली के लोग, आम आदमी पार्टी के विधायक और मैं – सब एक ही उद्देश्य से काम करेंगे – कि अरविंद केजरीवाल जी को फिर से मुख्यमंत्री बनाना है… pic.twitter.com/jTJtOzSCAq
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) September 17, 2024A strong academic background
Atishi is a Rhodes scholar; she has studied is prestigious institutions like St. Stephen’s College in Delhi and the University of Oxford. She has spent her career in the initial phases of social practices, engaging in organic farming as well as progressive education projects in a village in Madhya Pradesh. Her step into politics began when she joined AAP and started working with Manish Sisodia. Sishodia appointed her as an advisor during his tenure as an education minister. Atishi’s journey as an advisor to a Delhi Cabinet has been astounding, shaping her path.
Atishi played a keen role in AAP’s political vision.
She has been a potential figure for AAP’s growth. Atishi was a member of the manifesto drafting committee during the 2013 assembly elections, and her role has been related to designing the policies and vision of the Party for Delhi people’s betterment. She has been recognised not only by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal but also by other figures, especially by the people of Delhi, in transitioning the environment, be it in education, transparency, or public services.
Addressing major issues in Delhi
The political career of Atishi has been formed by her potential to tackle pressing challenges, which affect Delhi residents. She has been vocal about the continuous water dispute in Delhi with neighbouring states alongside the MLA Kalkaji’s repetition. In mitigating the crisis, she said, “This is not just a political issue. It’s about the basic rights of every Delhiite to have access to clean drinking water.”
A new leadership era for Delhi
The appointment of Atishi as the Next Chief Minister of Delhi to replace Arvind Kejriwal can mark a new chapter for both her and the AAP. With the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, Atishi’s leadership can be focused on shaping the Party’s strategy as well as public image. Her evaluation of the Chief Minister’s office can signal a transformation in the political scenario of the national capital, being the only woman in the Delhi Cabinet.
Arvind Kejriwal’s tenure as government of Delhi
| Period | Position | Major events and mistunes | Votes secured | Remarks |
| February 14, 2015 to 2024 | 2nd Term – Chief Managerial position in Delhi | Introduced free electricity and water schemes focused on healthcare with Mohalla clinics | 2020 Delhi Assembly elections: 62 seats (New Delhi Constituency) | Resigned due to legal issues on September 17, 2024. |
| December 28, 2013 – 2014 | 1st term – secured position of Chief Minister in Delhi | Launched anti-corruption drive. Resigned after 49 days over the Jan Lokpal Bill issue. | 2013 Delhi Assembly elections (New Delhi constituency). | Shortest tenure as CM. |
| 2012-present (2024) | National Convener of AAP | Expanded AAP’s presence beyond Delhi. Successful assembly elections in Punjab in 2022. | Resigned amidst legal battles. | |
| 2012 | Founding of AAP | Founding of AAP based on anticorruption platform with Jan Lokpal demand. | Established a new political force. | |
| 2006 – 2012 | Social activist | A key figure in India Against Corruption Movement | This led to the formation of AAP. | |
| Prior to 2006 | IRS Officer | Served as a civil servant in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). | Left to focus on social activities. |
What awaits next for Arvind Kejriwal or his Party?
Arvind Kejriwal will move out of his official residence in the next 15 days and give up all facilities. There is an awaiting situation. What happens next? Delhi goes to polls after February 2025, so Arvind Kejriwal has a couple of options. He can let Atishi complete the AAP government’s term until February next year. He can also use this time to build a campaign. Less focus on governance more focus on politics. Perhaps he can even expand his footprint to other states, like Haryana. This state is going to polls in October, and AAP is contesting all 90 seats in that state. As his birthplace in Haryana, Kejriwal may devote more time to the upcoming election there.
Arvind Kejriwal will vacate his Chief Minister’s residence in 15 days and stay among the public, giving up all government facilities.
Details on his next residence are yet to be decided, according to AAP MP Sanjay Singh. pic.twitter.com/Ee32yxp3TE
— Jitender Singh (@jitenderkhalsa) September 18, 2024The AAP has already won Punjab and Delhi, and there’s no reason they cannot make inroads in Haryana. This would be the first possibility. He can also try to call for early elections in Delhi. AAP leaders say that this is the plan but not a guarantee. Atishi, as the next Chief Minister, can ask the Left-wing Governor to dissolve the Assembly to hold snap elections in the capital city. However, the final decision belongs to the Left-wing Governor, and he is not bound by the chief minister’s advice. Therefore, the elections may or may not happen immediately, which is a critical concern.
FAQ
Why did Arvind Kejriwal resign as Delhi Chief Minister in 2024?
Arvind Kejriwal resigned from his post to position himself as a victim of what he called vendetta politics by the BJP-led central government.
Who is set to replace Arvind Kejriwal as the next Chief Minister of Delhi?
Arvind Kejriwal, before his resignation announced the name Atishi Marlena to be the next Chief Minister of Delhi. She is a senior leader of AAP. Her appointment has given rise to both support and criticism from political leaders. Some even branded her as a dummy CM.
What are the reasons behind Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation?
Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to resign from the post of chief minister has many reasons. These include avoiding central rule in Dehli, battling corruption allegations, and preventing anti-incumbency backlash.
How does Kejriwal’s resignation impact the political standing of his Party?
His resignation can allow AAP to reinvent itself and shed the image of a party mired in corruption allegations. There are chances for the Party to improve its base and reposition its political narrative.
What are the corruption allegations Kejriwal is facing?
Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia (former Deputy Chief Minister) are witnessing allegations related to an excise policy. The ED arrested Kejriwal for money laundering charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2022. Kejriwal was also arrested by the CBI for an alleged liquor policy scam.
When Arvind Kejriwal was released?
On September 13, 2024. He was granted bail by the top court (Supreme Court) with certain conditions, including not attending CM’s office.
Arvind Kejriwal was kept in which jail?
In Tihar Jail.
