The arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who led AAP’s rapid ascent over the last decade, has clouded the party’s future with uncertainty. The challenge for the party now lies in finding a worthy leader capable of managing both the party and the government in Delhi. A report by Aayush Goel
When Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 on corruption charges, it came as no surprise to the majority of people. This pre-Lok Sabha election drama had been long predicted and anticipated by almost the entire nation, as well as the Aam Aadmi Party itself.
The party had in fact in November 2023 run a door-to-door campaign, asking residents of Delhi whether the CM should resign or run his government from jail. The Enforcement Directorate arrested Arvind Kejriwal after his name was mentioned multiple times in the chargesheets related to the excise policy case. The AAP national convenor is accused of soliciting kickbacks from liquor traders in exchange for favours.
The ED has also accused him of being the “kingpin and key conspirator” in the now-scrapped policy. The agency has already arrested at least 14 leaders including top three: Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh and now Kejriwal. The agency is not stopping at that as the federal agency has approached the court seeking permission to investigate AAP, the party Kejriwal is heading, as a beneficiary of the “proceeds of crime”.
Despite the arrest, which has triggered protest by party supporters and leaders across the country, Kejriwal remains undeterred while strongly denying the charges and accusing the BJP-led Centre of “manipulating investigative agencies for political motives”. The other opposition parties, part of the I.N.D.I.A block, call it BJP’s signature move to divert attention from its shortcomings, electoral bonds scam, this time. The Delhi CM is running his government from jail even as the Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has strongly objected to the same, raising speculations of President’s rule in the national capital. Kejriwal has also moved the High Court against the arrest and the petition has been deferred for hearing to April 3.
What next?
Amidst the ongoing drama and constant allegations and counter allegations between the two parties, the episode has raised the biggest question: what next?. One of the foremost issues of discussion and decision is constitutional conduct with a sitting CM attempting to function from prison. Delhi LG V K Saxena has said, “I can assure the people of Delhi that the government will not be run from jail.” Until now, Kejriwal has shown no signs of relenting on his stand. His party is conveying at every point that the CM is issuing instructions from inside prison. This, by majority, is being seen as symbolic defiance by not quitting, especially when elections are, for all purposes, underway.
