On September 17, Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, officially submitted his resignation to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. This move comes after a turbulent period marked by legal battles and political controversies. Kejriwal, who has led Delhi since February 2020, will be succeeded by his close associate, Atishi, who is set to become the city’s new Chief Minister.
Kejriwal’s Controversial Tenure
Kejriwal’s third term as Delhi’s Chief Minister was overshadowed by several major controversies. One of the most significant issues was the Delhi Excise Policy case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) accused AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, of money laundering related to the Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22. This case led to the arrest of several top AAP officials, though the Supreme Court later granted them bail. The excise policy began in November 2021 and was scrapped in September 2022 amid the allegations.
Another controversy erupted in May 2024 when Swati Maliwal, former head of the Delhi Commission for Women, accused Bibhav Kumar, a close aide of Kejriwal, of assault. Initially, AAP acknowledged the incident but later claimed it was part of a BJP conspiracy against Kejriwal. Kumar was arrested but later released on bail. Kejriwal also faced criticism for his remarks on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in March 2024. He warned that implementing CAA could lead to riots and accused the BJP of using it for vote bank politics. The BJP responded by labeling Kejriwal as “anti-Hindu.”
Controversy and Early Resignation
In April 2023, the BJP accused Kejriwal of misusing public funds for a ₹45 crore renovation of his official residence. The claims led to scrutiny and the suspension of several engineers. Another issue during his tenure was the Tablighi Jamaat row in 2020, where Kejriwal criticized a large religious gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic, which some felt exacerbated the spread of the virus.
Atishi Takes Over as Interim Chief Minister
Following his resignation, Kejriwal’s confidant Atishi has been appointed as the interim Chief Minister of Delhi. Atishi, 43, is a prominent AAP leader who has previously served in various ministerial roles, including finance and education. She will lead Delhi until the next Assembly elections, expected in February 2025. Atishi has expressed her commitment to continuing Kejriwal’s vision and has urged Delhi voters to support Kejriwal’s return in the upcoming elections.
Atishi emphasized her role as a temporary leader, stating, “While I am honored to be given this responsibility, my goal is to ensure that Arvind Kejriwal returns as Chief Minister.” She also accused the BJP of pursuing false charges to undermine the AAP and Kejriwal.