The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to announce the next Chief Minister of Delhi by 12 p.m. today, following a legislative meeting in the national capital. The meeting will take place at the current Chief Minister's residence, where the decision is expected to be finalized.
Later in the day, Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to meet Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena at 4:30 p.m. The newly chosen leader will formally stake a claim for the position of Chief Minister at that time.
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj remained reserved on who might succeed Kejriwal, only stating that the new Chief Minister could either be an MLA or a current minister. Bharadwaj emphasized that although the seat may be filled by someone else, the mandate was clearly for Arvind Kejriwal, and he holds the public's trust.
"It doesn't matter who sits in the Chief Minister's chair because the mandate was for Arvind Kejriwal. He said he will not return to the role unless the people ask for it again, but the chair belongs to him for these five years and the next five as well," Bharadwaj remarked.
When questioned about the potential replacement for Kejriwal, Bharadwaj reiterated that it could be an MLA or any current minister. Discussions with the MLAs today will help finalize the decision.
On Sunday, Kejriwal announced his resignation and declared that he would not resume his role as Chief Minister unless the people of Delhi affirm his honesty. He also called for early elections in the national capital, suggesting they could take place in November, ahead of the scheduled February elections.
Kejriwal mentioned that re-election would serve as a "certificate" of his honesty and that he would push for early elections alongside those scheduled in Maharashtra.
The announcement followed Kejriwal’s release from Tihar jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a corruption case related to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam. The court has also imposed conditions on Kejriwal, including refraining from public comments on the case and attending all court hearings unless exempted.
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