New Delhi: Hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced he would step down, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit criticized the timing and sincerity of the decision. Dikshit remarked that Kejriwal should have resigned earlier, describing the move as a "mere gimmick."
Dikshit questioned the legitimacy of Kejriwal's resignation, noting the unusual restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court, which prohibited him from entering the Chief Minister's Office or signing any documents. "This is the first time an elected leader has faced such conditions. The Supreme Court is treating him like a criminal, which has not happened with other leaders, such as Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren," Dikshit said.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal, recently released on bail from Tihar Jail in connection with the excise policy corruption case, announced he would resign in two days and call for early elections in Delhi. He stated he would only resume his role as Chief Minister after receiving a "certificate of honesty" from the public, viewing this period as a personal "agnipariksha" or trial by fire.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders supported Kejriwal’s decision, but the BJP criticized the timing and motivation behind it. BJP's Harish Khurana argued that Kejriwal's resignation should have been immediate, asserting that his continued presence as Chief Minister while on bail is unjustifiable. "The people are asking why he remains in office if the court has restricted his functions. He is a CM on bail, not acquitted," Khurana said.
BJP's Manjinder Singh Sirsa dismissed Kejriwal’s resignation as not a voluntary sacrifice but a forced decision due to the Supreme Court's orders. Sirsa alleged that Kejriwal's delay in resigning suggests he is maneuvering to have his wife assume the Chief Minister's role. He further criticized Kejriwal’s involvement in the liquor scam and the public's rejection of him in the recent elections.
Anil Vij Seeks Chief Ministerial Position Ahead of Haryana Assembly Elections
Tragic House Collapse in Meerut: Nine Dead, Four Feared Trapped