Four days after his release from Tihar Jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal is expected to submit his resignation to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday, September 17. He is also anticipated to propose a successor before the upcoming elections in the national capital.
The AAP has conducted a series of meetings to deliberate on potential candidates for the chief minister’s role. This comes a day before party MLAs are scheduled to convene and finalize Kejriwal’s successor. The current term of the Delhi Assembly is set to expire on February 11, 2025, with the last assembly election having been held on February 8, 2020.
Arvind Kejriwal has discussed the party’s choice for chief minister with senior leaders, including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha. Reports indicate that Delhi ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, and Saurabh Bharadwaj are leading candidates for the top position, with Sunita Kejriwal and Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel also under consideration. Kejriwal is scheduled to meet the Lieutenant Governor at 4:30 p.m. today to submit his resignation. He has pledged not to occupy the chief minister’s chair until he receives a “certificate of honesty” from the people.
The AAP will hold a legislative party meeting at 11:30 a.m. to finalize its choice for the chief ministerial post. The BJP has criticized Kejriwal’s resignation, suggesting it is driven by “compulsion” rather than “principle.” There is speculation that AAP may nominate a Dalit or Muslim legislator for the chief minister’s position to appeal to the electorate, considering the presence of 12 reserved constituencies and several minority-majority seats. Kejriwal has sought individual feedback from party leaders on his replacement.
Sisodia has announced that he will campaign alongside Kejriwal, focusing on issues of honesty, and will not seek any official role. Among the front-runners, Atishi is notable for her management of several key portfolios, including education, finance, revenue, and law. During his imprisonment for the Delhi excise policy case, Arvind Kejriwal had steadfastly refused to resign as chief minister.
