Arvind Kejriwal To Resign As Delhi CM: Key Milestones In His Political Journey

Arvind Kejriwal, AAP leader, has announced his resignation as Delhi's Chief Minister after the Supreme Court granted him bail.

Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor, announced his intention to resign as Delhi's chief minister within two days.

This decision follows the Supreme Court granting him bail in the excise case, stating that his prolonged incarceration was an unjust deprivation of liberty.

Photo Credit: PTI

The 56-year-old politician addressed supporters amid rainfall after being released from Tihar Jail on September 13. He mentioned that he would only accept the chief ministerial role again if the people confirmed his honesty in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. "We will go to the court of people to prove our innocence," he stated.

Political Journey and Achievements

In 2011, Kejriwal embarked on his political journey through his involvement in the India Against Corruption movement headed by Anna Hazare. This movement aimed at passing the Jan Lokpal Bill, which motivated Kejriwal to establish the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 201. Following the party's participation in the 2013 Delhi assembly elections, where they secured 28 seats out of 70, Kejriwal assumed the role of Delhi's chief minister for the first time.

Despite his resignation after 49 days due to obstacles in passing the Jan Lokpal Bill, AAP's resounding victory in 2015, with 67 out of 70 seats, led to Kejriwal's re-election. His subsequent wins in 2020 saw him holding the position of Delhi's chief minister once again, representing the New Delhi constituency.

Key Focus Areas

As chief minister, Kejriwal has focused on education, healthcare, water, electricity, and infrastructure. His government introduced Mohalla Clinics to provide accessible healthcare across Delhi. Additionally, his administration offered free water up to 20,000 litres per month per household and subsidised electricity rates to make utilities more affordable.

Before entering politics, Kejriwal was an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer actively involved in advocacy for the Right to Information (RTI) movement and governance reforms. He gained prominence after receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership in 2006.

Clashes with Central Government

Kejriwal has often clashed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on various issues including public appointments and jurisdictional responsibilities. In 2014, he ran unsuccessfully against Modi in Varanasi.

Kejriwal’s decision comes at a critical juncture as he prepares for the upcoming elections. His future actions will likely be closely watched by both supporters and critics alike.