#WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal offers prayers at Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place.
His wife Sunita Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann are also with him. pic.twitter.com/Xci2LNwx3d
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2024
Kejriwal is scheduled to conduct a press conference at the Aam Aadmi Party office in Delhi later today. He also has a road show in South Delhi that he will be taking part in that evening.
After being detained by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21, just after the general election schedule was announced, in connection with an excise policy case, Kejriwal had already spent more than 50 days in Tihar Jail.
He is free on bond until June 1st, at which point he will have to turn himself in to the police. Kejriwal is unable to carry out his responsibilities as Chief Minister during this time, yet being able to campaign for the election.
While leaving jail on Friday, Kejriwal gave a speech to his followers and thanked them for their prayers as well as the Supreme Court. He underlined the necessity of fighting dictatorship together.
In addition to thanking supporters for their well wishes and prayers, his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, celebrated his release on bond as a democratic triumph.
Within the INDIA bloc, opposition parties applauded the ruling of the Supreme Court. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge both expressed satisfaction with the temporary bail.
BJP leaders, meanwhile, attacked the opposition, claiming that Kejriwal’s release on bail does not prove his innocence. Virendra Sachdeva, the president of the Delhi BJP, stressed that the party is still optimistic about taking all seven seats in Delhi.
Lawyer Shadan Farasat of the Supreme Court explained that Kejriwal is free to campaign for the election until June 2nd, during which time the bail order is in place.
Kejriwal is anticipated to take part fully in the AAP’s electoral efforts in the run-up to the May 25 general elections in Delhi.