Arvind Kejriwal, one of India’s prominent opposition leaders, resigned as New Delhi’s Chief Minister on Tuesday, shortly after being released on bail in a bribery case. Kejriwal, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was arrested in March, accused of accepting bribes from a liquor distributor—a charge he has repeatedly denied, calling it a political conspiracy.
Opposition parties condemned his arrest as a misuse of power by Modi’s government, alleging it was part of a broader strategy to target political rivals ahead of upcoming elections. The arrest and investigations into other key opposition figures were seen as attempts to weaken the opposition.
Following Kejriwal’s resignation, the Aam Aadmi Party, which he leads, appointed his close ally Atishi as his successor. Atishi, 43, currently oversees crucial portfolios including finance, education, and women’s and children’s welfare.
After more than nine years as Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal submitted his resignation to Lt. Gov. V.K. Saxena. He stated he would only return to office if re-elected in the upcoming Delhi assembly election and urged that the elections, scheduled for February next year, be moved up to November.
India’s Supreme Court granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal, restricting him from meeting witnesses or visiting his office, while requiring the governor to review some of his decisions as chief minister. The government accuses Kejriwal’s party of accepting 1 billion rupees ($12 million) in bribes from a liquor distributor in exchange for policy changes. Two key ministers, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, were also arrested and later released on bail. The case has fueled allegations of political targeting by Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized Kejriwal’s supporters, reminding them that he was out on bail, not acquitted, and demanded his resignation. Political analysts note that corruption charges have tarnished Kejriwal’s party, which originally rose to power on an anti-corruption platform symbolized by the broom. Some see Kejriwal’s resignation as an effort to regain his standing. His Aam Aadmi Party, part of the opposition alliance INDIA, remains a key challenger to Modi’s BJP, which formed a government in June with coalition partners.
