Delhi polls: Kejriwal apologises, promises not to quit again

New Delhi, Feb 1: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has once again apologised for his actions during his 49-day tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi last year and promised not to quit again.

"...Many people across Delhi feel that our actions have let them down. In May (last year), we apologised to the people of Delhi for the disappointment caused; and in case you missed it the first time, I do so again - so you hear us loud and clear," he said.

"We did not lie, and we did not steal. However, I acknowledge that people were still hurt by our actions, because what AAP represents is bigger than all of us. People felt hurt that they invested so much of themselves in a party and movement that was seen to have walked away," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal, who quit on February 14 last year just 49 days after being sworn-in, has faced flak for his decision to resign mid-way. AAP, which had 28 seats in the 70-member House, ran the government with Congress support.

Later, Kejriwal contested Lok Sabha polls against BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from Varanasi but lost. He insisted that he had not given up Chief Ministership of Delhi for that purpose, as is commonly believed.

"It's also a commonly-held belief that I gave up the Chief Minister's chair in Delhi to fight the Lok Sabha election and become Prime Minister. I didn't," he said.

Noting that he requested a fresh election for Delhi the very moment he resigned, Kejriwal rued "But the Delhi election never came.

In hindsight, perhaps we were too trusting. It was a mistake, an honest mistake; but a mistake all the same." Recalling the atmospherics during the last Assembly polls in Delhi in 2013, Kejriwal said, "...thousands of young men and women in Delhi began something they had not done before.

They sat around dinner tables, discussing and debating politics with their family members. "People in Delhi have always debated politics, but this time it was different. This time they stuck their necks out- vouching for a new political party, often writing out cheques with their hard-earned money."

He then added: "A few months later, this very group had to face the embarrassment of hearing friends and loved ones say: "See, we told you so." AAP is seeking full majority for a five-year-term.

PTI