“In 48 hours…” Arvind Kejriwal announces his resignation, seeks early Delhi polls for people’s mandate

In less than 48 hours after walking out of Tihar jail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that in the next 48 hours he would tender his resignation from the chair of the Chief Minister and wait for the verdict of the people, hoping to return to the same office soon. "Two days later, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not sit on that chair till the people give their verdict. I want people’s verdict as whether I am honest or not. Elections in Delhi are months away. I got justice from the legal court, now I will get justice from the people's court. I will sit on the Chief Minister's chair only after the verdict of the people," Kejriwal said while speaking at an event in New Delhi.

After six months of incarceration Kejriwal was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Thursday but the top court barred Kejriwal to attend his office or sign on any official document. Kejriwal was previously granted bail in July in connection with the arrest by Enforcement Directorate for alleged money laundering in the now scrapped Delhi excise policy.

“I want to ask the people of Delhi, is Kejriwal innocent or guilty? If I have worked for the people then they will vote for me. I want the certificate from the people”, he said after visiting the Aam Aadmi Party office in New Delhi. He also added that a meeting of AAP MLAs will be held within the next two days to choose the new Chief Minister for the national capital. As Kejriwal made his announcement, the party workers got off their chairs and shouted their disapproval to the decision. The AAP convener also demanded early elections in the Union Territory. Assembly elections are otherwise scheduled for February next year but Kejriwal demanded that Delhi elections are scheduled along with the impending Maharastra elections in November.

BJP has hit back at AAP, calling the announcement a ‘drama’ to score sympathy. "Why does he want to wait for 48 hours? he can resign today. In the past too, he has done this. People of Delhi are asking, he can't go to the secretariat, can't sign documents? What is the point in staying as the Chief Minister?” Said BJP leader Harish Khurana​