Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sandeep Pathak on Sunday hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following allegations that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to resign was a “PR stunt.” Responding to BJP’s accusations, Pathak claimed that ever since Kejriwal formed his government in Delhi, he has been systematically denied power and obstructed from fulfilling his duties.
“Ever since Arvind Kejriwal became Chief Minister, he has had no real power. At every step, he has been blocked from performing his duties. The court has acquitted him, and it is the people of Delhi who elected him as their CM. Now, it will be the people who will decide if he should continue in the role,” Pathak said.
This statement comes after BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Kejriwal’s resignation announcement was an attempt to salvage his image, calling it a “PR stunt.” Bhandari further compared Kejriwal’s strategy to Sonia Gandhi’s leadership model, where she reportedly controlled the government from behind the scenes during Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister.
“This is a PR exercise by Arvind Kejriwal. He knows that his image among Delhi’s citizens is no longer that of an honest leader, but of a corrupt one. Under his leadership, the AAP has come to be seen as a corrupt party,” Bhandari said.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa also weighed in, suggesting that Kejriwal’s resignation was not voluntary but mandated by a Supreme Court order. Sirsa further claimed that Kejriwal was attempting to install his wife as the next Chief Minister of Delhi.
Kejriwal announced on Sunday that he would resign from his position as Delhi Chief Minister within two days, stating he would not return to the role unless the people of Delhi deem him “honest.” He added that he would request early elections, alongside the state of Maharashtra, if the public supports his return.
Kejriwal’s announcement followed his release from Tihar Jail on Friday, after the Supreme Court granted him bail in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam case.