Arvind Kejriwal Submits Resignation To LG Saxena, Atishi Marlena To Take Charge As Delhi CM Soon
Arvind Kejriwal resigns as Delhi CM, paving the way for Atishi Marlena to take over. Kejriwal had announced his intention to resign on Sunday.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and three-time Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, submitted his resignation to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena today, September 17. Kejriwal, who had announced his intention to resign from the chief minister's post on Sunday (September 15), was released on bail in the Delhi Excise Policy scam on September 13.
The move from the AAP leader comes as a surprise, as despite being in jail for almost six months and embroiled in cases from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), he had resisted resigning from the CM post despite mounting pressure from the opposition, mainly BJP.
ALSO ON ABP LIVE | 'Kejriwal Will Remain CM': What Atishi Said After Being Chosen To Helm Delhi Affairs
Arvind Kejriwal was accompanied by senior party leaders Atishi and Gopal Rai. Atishi also staked claim to form a new government during her meeting with LG Saxena.
'Need Delhi's Mandate, SC's Decision Not Enough': Atishi On Why Kejriwal Resigned
"Today Arvind Kejriwal has submitted his resignation. This is an emotional moment for the party and the people of Delhi...At the same time, the people of Delhi are resolving to make Arvind Kejriwal the chief minister again...Till the elections are not held I will be looking after Delhi and we have a stake claim to form government," Atishi told the reporters before leaving the LG's residence.
"False cases were imposed. The central government deployed one agency after another against him (Kejriwal). He was put in jail for six months on false charges. The Supreme Court not only gave bail to Arvind Kejriwal, but also made strong comments against central agencies. They said that the central agencies are like a 'caged parrot.' They (Supreme Court) said that the arrest of Kejriwal was wrongfully done and was a result of malice," she stated.
Atishi added: "If there would have been another leader or CM, he would have quickly gone and sat on the CM's chair. But the decision that Arvind Kejriwal took, I don't think any other leader in the democratic history of any country or the entire world would have taken. He said that the SC's judgement is not enough for him. I need the mandate of the people of the Delhi."
She said that the AAP and the people of Delhi are working only towards achieving two objectives: ensuring Arvind Kejriwal's return as the chief minister of Delhi and to protect Delhi from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which she claimed might halt the free electricity and healthcare facilities provided by the AAP government.
BREAKING | सरकार बनाने का दावा पेश करने के बाद आतिशी ने बीजेपी पर लगाए गंभीर आरोप
— ABP News (@ABPNews) September 17, 2024
- केजरीवाल को फर्जी मामले में फंसाया : आतिशी@romanaisarkhan @ReporterAnkitG @deepakrawat45https://t.co/smwhXURgtc#Delhi #AAP #DelhiCM #Atishi #ArvindKejriwal #DelhiNews #GopalRai pic.twitter.com/vf2WT9JVOC
Atishi Marlena Is The Pick Of AAP-Led By Arvind Kejriwal
Ahead of submitting his resignation, Arvind Kejriwal proposed Atishi Marlena's name as the next chief minister during the legislative party meeting on Tuesday (September 17).
Before being announced as Delhi's third female chief minister, Atishi, MLA from Kalaji assembly, already held 13 portfolios, including Education and PWD.
The oath-taking ceremony for Atishi Marlena is yet to be announced.
Atishi became the de facto central figure of the party as senior AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were both taken into custody by central agencies for alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy scam.
It is also significant that Kejriwal's resignation as Delhi CM comes just months ahead of the state assembly election, which is due by February 2025.
WATCH | अगर कैबिनेट में नए चहरे होंगे तो पोर्टफोलियो कैसे बनेगा? वरिष्ठ पत्रकार जगविंदर पटियाल ने समझाया https://t.co/smwhXUROiK | @akhileshanandd | @deepakrawat45@jagwindrpatial#Atishi #AAP #Delhi #Latestnews #DelhiNews #LatestNews pic.twitter.com/opWd7wFxXp
— ABP News (@ABPNews) September 17, 2024
BJP Sharpens Attack On Kejriwal
Shortly after Atishi was announced as the Chief Minister-designate, the BJP criticised the move, calling her the "Puppet CM of Delhi." In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Delhi BJP shared an image of the AAP convener with strings attached to Atishi, depicting her as a puppet being controlled. The graphic, with a gloomy background, also mocked AAP's election symbol, showing the broom (jhaadu) broken in half.
Puppet CM of Delhi pic.twitter.com/1s31BS4b2N
— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) September 17, 2024
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