
Two days after he was released from prison as he got bail in the Delhi excise policy case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday (Sept 15) that he would resign from the top postin two days.
"Two days later, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not sit on that chair till the people announce their verdict. Elections in Delhi are months away. I got justice from the legal court, now I will get justice from the people's court," Kejriwal said while addressing supporters of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
"I will sit on the chief minister's chair only after the order of the people," Kejriwal added.
The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who are the opposition parties in Delhi, called Kejriwal's announcement to resign as CM in 48hours as a PR gimmick.
"This is a PR stunt by Arvind Kejriwal. He has understood that his image among the people of Delhi is not of an honest leader but of a corrupt leader, today Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is known across the country as a corrupt party," saidBJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.
"There is no question of him becoming the CM again. We have been saying for a long time that he should resign as the CM... This is a mere gimmick," Congress leader Sandip Dikshit said, adding, Kejriwal would never return as the CM.
So why is Kejriwal resigning from the CM's post after two days? Addressing a press conference, Delhi Minister Atishi was asked this question.
"Today is Sunday, and tomorrow is a holiday for Eid-e-Milad, so the next working day is Tuesday. That's why two days time," Atishi said.
On Sunday, Kejriwalsaid he did not resign as CM while in jail as he wanted to 'protect democracy' in India.
"I didn't resign because I wanted to protect the country's democracy. They have made a new formula -- wherever they lose, they send the CM to jail and form their government," Kejriwal said.
"They have registered cases against (Karnataka CM) Siddaramaiah, (Kerala CM) Pinarayi Vijayan, (West Bengal CM) Mamata didi (Banerjee). I want to appeal to non-BJP, do not resign if they register cases against you. This is their new game," he added.
(With inputs from agencies)