Kejriwal resigns as Delhi CM, Atishi stakes claim to form government

New Delhi:  Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday and the party’s newly-elected  legislative party leader Atishi has staked claim to form the new government.

Kejriwal tendered his resignation to Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena. Talking to reporters, AAP leader and Delhi minister Gopal Rai said that Kejriwal had stated after getting bail in the Delhi excise case that he will take the post of Chief Minister only after he gets a renewed mandate from the people of Delhi in the assembly poll.

“Accordingly he gave his resignation. AAP MLAs met in the morning and elected Atishi as their leader. We have conveyed this to the LG. Atishi has staked claim to form the government.  We have requested that the date of swearing is decided at the earliest so that works related to the two crore residents of Delhi are taken forward,” he said.

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Rai said the new government will work to protect the initiatives taken by Kejriwal for the people of Delhi.     Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail in the national capital on September 13 after the apex court granted him bail the Delhi excise policy case.

The apex court also imposed certain conditions for Kejriwal’s release, including that he must refrain from making public comments about the case and must attend all hearings before the trial court unless exempt.

The current term of the Delhi Assembly will end on February 11, 2025. The last assembly election in Delhi was held on February 8, 2020. AAP leaders have said that the  assembly polls in Delhi should be held with those in Maharashtra and Jharkhand later this year.