How the opposition BJP and Congress responded to Arvind Kejriwal's Sunday surprise

New Delhi:

Soon after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that he would resign in two days and seek justice in the “people’s court”, the BJP responded by questioning whether this decision was due to a “rift” in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that its leader cannot handle.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi and Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva have slammed the Delhi Chief Minister and claimed that his corruption has hollowed out governance in the national capital.

“You did not resign when you were in jail, but now you are announcing that you will resign in 48 hours? People want to know the mystery behind those 48 hours. You do not have to fulfil the duties of the Prime Minister, why do you need 48 hours?” Trivedi asked.

On Friday, the Supreme Court granted bail to Kejriwal in a corruption case linked to Delhi's now-scrapped liquor policy, six months after his arrest. However, the court imposed several conditions on the AAP leader. He cannot enter the Chief Minister's office and sign official documents unless it is necessary to obtain the sanctions of the Lieutenant Governor.

“What is the personal work you are seeking 48 hours for? Your resignation announcement is your confession. Another suspicion arises. You are demanding early elections. Maybe this talk of an electoral battle comes from a battle within your party that you feel you cannot handle. What is the desperation behind this resignation speech?”

The BJP MP said Kejriwal is still the chief minister of Delhi and has a huge majority in the Assembly. “If they want elections, call a cabinet meeting, dissolve the Assembly. What is there to demand?”

Speaking to the media, Delhi BJP leader Virendraa Sachdeva said Kejriwal is saying that the people should decide whether he should be the chief minister. “The people announced their verdict three months ago (during the Lok Sabha elections). You had walked the streets of Delhi and asked for votes. The people gave their answer and put you in your place,” he said.

The BJP leader said 40 children of Delhi lost their lives because the AAP government failed to clean the drains. “And you say you are honest? The cause of their death is your corruption,” he said.

Referring to the much-touted education model of the AAP government, he said there are not enough teachers in Delhi schools.

The Congress, which contested the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi in alliance with AAP, termed the Prime Minister's resignation announcement as a “political manoeuvre”. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said Kejriwal resigned because he has no powers as the Chief Minister and is bound by the Supreme Court's conditions. “This is a political manoeuvre and nothing more. This will have no impact on the upcoming elections. People want a change now,” he said.

Explaining Kejriwal's announcement, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Arvind Kejriwal has faith in the public. He is known for taking risks. He left his job in the Income Tax Department and worked in the slums of Delhi for 10 years. I did not know then that AAP would be formed and he would become the Chief Minister.”

Atishi, also a Delhi minister, told Agency that it is important to understand Arvind Kejriwal to understand his decision. “He left the job of Income Tax Commissioner because he wanted to work for the country. He started AAP from scratch because he wanted a corruption-free politics. When he could not get an anti-corruption law, he resigned. Now imagine how he feels when he is accused of corruption, how he feels that maybe people are talking behind his back. His biggest asset is his honesty, and he has relied on that honesty to make this announcement. Is there any other politician or party in this country that has the guts to raise a challenge like this?” she asked.