Kejriwal’s potential resignation sparks race for next Delhi CM
Hindustan TimesNew Delhi Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, when he announced he would be stepping down as Delhi CM. With Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal deciding to resign from his post on Sunday, at the same time ruling out former deputy CM Manish Sisodia as his successor, the Aam Aadmi Party’s legislative unit will now elect a new CM — very likely from sitting MLAs Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, Gopal Rai and Imran Hussain, according to party officials, while Delhi’s political circles also floated the possibility of Sunita Kejriwal, the CM’s wife, helming the government. In Delhi’s political circles, speculations were also rife that Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal may be appointed the next CM of Delhi, given that there are fewer than six months for the term of the assembly — February 11, 2025 — because the term of the assembly is scheduled to expire in fewer than six months. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said: “AAP leaders are talking that Sunita Kejriwal may become the next chief minister because CM Kejriwal does not trust anyone else. Now that fewer than six months are left for the assembly elections, he has smartly decided to resign so that his wife could become the CM.” AAP leaders, however, insisted that the next CM will most likely be from among the sitting MLAs, citing Kejriwal’s speech, in which he said: “Someone from AAP will become the next CM.” Home minister Kailash Gahlot, one of the prominent Jat faces of the AAP in Delhi, is also among the contenders for the post of the CM.