Kejriwal's arrow in his 'trial by fire'

The announcement of the resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was released from jail six months after the Supreme Court granted bail in the Delhi liquor policy case, has obviously surprised the political circles. Addressing the workers at the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in Delhi last Sunday, he made it clear that he would not continue in office by staying within the strict bail conditions such as not entering the office of the Chief Minister in the Secretariat and not signing files. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was released on bail earlier in the liquor licence case after 17 months of imprisonment, is also of the stand that he will become a minister only after winning an election. Stating that the new Chief Minister will be elected soon, Kejriwal has also proposed that the assembly elections in the state, which is due only in February next year, be held along with Maharashtra in November. The Chief Minister said he will sit on the chair only after earning the testimony of honesty from the people. Kejriwal clarifies the policy that they will come back as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister only after the 'trial by fire' (agni pareeksha) whereby the people give their verdict that they are honest. Kejriwal reminds fellow Chief Ministers of other states not to resign if they are arrested on corruption charges. He also says that it was because of his respect for democracy and the constitution that he did not resign when he was imprisoned.

Also read: Arvind Kejriwal to relinquish Delhi CM post, letting people decide future course

Kejriwal, who stormed into power and national politics by fighting against corruption, and had to spend the last 17 months behind bars in the name of to corruption charges, will have to face a trial by fire if he wants to make good the moral dishonor. To recall that period, the party that reaped the fruit of his campaign led by Kejriwal by putting Anna Hazare at the forefront of national politics, was the BJP. However, the Aam Aadmi Party, which created a big wave in Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana and won power in two states, has also highlighted the problems of the neglected people at the grassroots as its agenda. Therefore, even when the BJP was voted in Parliament, the voters found the Aam Aadmi Party a suitable party for the ruling the state. People have endorsed the party's style of governance aimed at solution of and improvements in issues like water, electricity, basic education, and women's welfare. The uniqueness of Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party is that they have made a mark in the national political arena by addressing various problems in the people's lives, even though they did not clarify any specific position or stand on any of the controversial situations and issues in national politics. Kejriwal's new moves to regain his lost political image are based on this strength. Kejriwal and the party realize that the damage inflicted by the BJP's actions to tarnish the party, by alleging corruption in the liquor policy and in black money transactions of the Delhi state government, will turn out to be fatal to the party and the administration. A party that stood for a clean, anti-corruption image is now being painted as just another corrupt party. AAP will have to use all the political tactics in its arsenal to get out of it. It is enough to show its result to the party which is contesting on its own by staying aloof from the 'INDIA' alliance in the Haryana assembly elections. Even as AAP stands with the INDIA alliance at the national level, the party decided to contest alone in Haryana because it is confident about its position. That is why Kejriwal is adopting the strategy of highlighting the liquor policy case as the price he had to pay for his and the AAP's fight against corruption and its position rooted in people's welfare, thereby increasing sympathy among the voters and converting it into votes. He will be able to highlight the unnecessary and illegal haste and secretive political moves of the central agencies highlighted in the Supreme Court's bail verdict as proof of BJP's 'revenge politics'. At the party meet where he announced his resignation, Kejriwal enumerated such topics to be used for the next election campaign. Even as the case continues, he is determined to prepare for the ordeal by highlighting the experience of being crucified for the sake of the people's administration, before the impact of his victory in the fight for bail. dies down.

Also read: Kejriwal's bail: SC highlights possible denial of personal liberty through long trial ahead

On the other hand, the stringent bail conditions imposed by the Supreme Court have created a major barrier to Kejriwal's exercise of power as Chief Minister. Kejwal, who is out of jail, cannot continue as a remote-control chief minister without entering the office. His sudden announcement comes at a time when all the political opponents who are caught by surprise now are looking forward to seeing what Kejwal will do next because he has handled power while in jail. According to the new amendment which curtailed the powers of the Delhi government in the national capital, the Lt. Governor has been given overriding powers, including those that control the bureaucracy and which are meant to hamstring CMs like Kejriwal in his smooth running of good governance. In this situation, Kejriwal made this move to face the election soon with a new Chief Minister, a move that has hit the target as proven by the responses to the move. But the coming days will tell who will win in the settlement of scores with its additions and subtractions of political reckoning on the road ahead.

Also read: Kejriwal ‘orchestrating drama’ over giving up CM’s post: Sandeep Dikshit