Three-time Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned twice as CM, the second time this month taking political bigwigs by surprise. He toiled hard with his Aam Admi Party (AAP) government at the helm of affairs in Delhi for a decade since 2013, with Mohalla Clinics, Free Electricity, model schools etc leaving its imprint on the mind of capital residents.
In turn the ‘Dilwalo ki Dilli’ gave an all out support, with his second stint as CM registering a historic win on 67 (96%) out of 70 assembly seats owing to an unexpected 54.3 percent of votes. The third term of AAP government also saw its candidates emerge victorious on 62 (89%) assembly seats. But fate had something else in store for Anna Andolan product of 2011.
Having proved his mettle in Delhi thrice, Kejriwal went, saw and conquered Punjab successfully in 2022 winning 92 (78%) of the total 117 assembly seats, making political doyens take cognizance of the new star in ‘Rajneeti’. Likewise, Kejriwal factor also ensured AAP win legislative seats in Goa and Gujarat states also the same year.
However, a fast spreading AAP presence from Delhi to three other states in just a decade and a stymied Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) performance in Delhi assembly polls coupled with vociferous attacks of Kejriwal on BJP leadership, alleging gross corruption cost the party dearly, with the deep state unleashed to tackle ‘AAP log’ firsthand.
However, the former IRS officer and author of ‘Swaraj’ carrying his analyses of corruption and Indian democracy, served a six-month jail after being named in the Delhi Liquor policy case.
Barely out of jail on conditional bail, the heady mix of ambition and amateur politicking, saw the Delhi CM announce his resignation, inviting the opposition or the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party cry foul, as he himself had been resisting the demand of BJP to quit the CM’s post all this while.
Many feel the decision was uncalled for while a section of political analysts feel the decision was a bait to trap the opposition, currently neck deep into leveling charges of gross corruption against the Anna Andolan star, on the wrong foot.
As per political analyst Abhay Awasthi, Arvind Kejriwal is not the same ‘protestor against corruption’ of ‘India Against Corruption’ movement of 2011 led by social activist Anna Hazare and top cop Kiran Bedi. Over the years, he has metamorphosed into a seasoned politician with enough acumen to dodge political barbs.
“Kejriwal’s decision to resign from the post of Delhi Chief Minister is a calculated move. The sympathy wave that the decision is expected to generate would help Kejriwal wash away the corruption taint to quite an extent besides would also help minimize anti-incumbency factor,” he said.
As per him, the Delhi Assembly elections were slated to be held in February 2025, which left Kejriwal with just five months in chair. “These five months, after his resignation is expected to be utilized effectively by the Kejriwal camp to play the victim card deflating vendetta politics of BJP, as the latter had been struggling hard to dislodge the ‘AAP Darbar’. Moreover, the conditions of bail had already restricted Kejriwal to act as a chief minister,” he added.
According to member of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) Javed Urfi, the political move had left the BJP camp baffled as it was a multi-pronged approach to pull out the party from the current situation. “Kejriwal himself has demanded that the polls be held in November instead of the official time of February next year. His confidence speaks volumes of what was under wraps which would help intimidate opposition’s confidence to quite an extent. The decision would help douse the anti-incumbency factor also,” he said.
As per Urfi, the well calculated political move could also help Kejriwal reinvent his ‘anti-corruption’ image after a series of venomous attacks by the BJP, alleging gross corruption charges aimed to tarnish his credibility.