AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal steps down as Delhi CM, Atishi set to take over

Two days after announcing her decision to quit, Kejriwal formally stepped down handing over his resignation letter to Lieutenant Governor Vinay Saxena.

Atishi was elected as the leader of the legislative party in the morning after her name was proposed by the party supremo. She has already met the Lieutenant Governor and staked claim to form the government. 

Atishi, who presently holds the portfolios of Education, Women and Child Welfare, Culture, Tourism and Public Works Development, will become the third woman Chief Minister of Delhi after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit.

Ahead of taking over as the Chief Minister, Atishi said, "This is the first time in the history of democracy that a Chief Minister has decided that the decision of the Supreme Court is not enough for him; until the court of the people gives its verdict, he will not sit on the Chief Minister's chair... The whole Delhi is saddened by Kejriwal's resignation."

Kejriwal announced the stepping down from the Chief Minister's post dramatically after walking out of jail securing a bail in the excise policy case.

As a Chief Minister, Kerjiwal was barred by the Supreme Court from signing any document and entering into his office.

He demanded the polls in Delhi, which are scheduled to be held in February, should be hosted in November along with elections in Maharashtra.

"I am here to ask people whether they consider Kejriwal to be guilty or innocent?" he said.

He said someone else from the AAP will serve as the Chief Minister until the polls are held.

Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said the political outfit put him behind bars since it was scared of his performance.

"The only thing I have is honesty," he said.

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the excise policy case.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI in June when he was already in Tihar Jail in connection with the same case.

The Aam Aadmi Party supremo has been in jail since March 21 when he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate over money laundering allegations while framing the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped after the Lieutenant Governor raised red flags.

He was arrested by the CBI on June 26.

The ED has alleged the money Kejriwal got from the liquor sellers was used to fund the party's campaign in Goa since he is the convenor of the AAP.

Kejriwal was given an interim bail in May for a brief period until June 2, 2024 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.