Tue Sep 17 08:00:27 UTC 2024: ## Kejriwal Resigns as Delhi CM, Calls for Early Elections Amidst Corruption Case

**New Delhi:** In a dramatic turn of events, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation on Tuesday, stating he would give up his post and seek an “agnipariksha” (trial by fire) to prove his innocence in the alleged excise policy corruption case. This move comes after the Supreme Court granted him bail last week.

Kejriwal has requested that Assembly elections in Delhi be held concurrently with Maharashtra, where elections are due before November 26. However, the term of the Delhi Assembly ends on February 23, 2025.

While the Election Commission of India (ECI) usually conducts elections six months before the end of an Assembly’s term, Section 15(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, allows for earlier elections if the Assembly is dissolved. The Council of Ministers can recommend dissolution to the Governor, forcing a decision.

However, Delhi, a Union Territory, has different rules. The Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the central government, has the final say on dissolving the Assembly. While Kejriwal has announced his resignation, he has not yet recommended dissolution. His successor is expected to be announced after a meeting of AAP MLAs on Tuesday.

The ECI is currently focused on the Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Assembly elections, followed by those in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The ECI usually conducts a special summary revision of the electoral roll a few months before elections, which has already been completed for Maharashtra. The rolls for other states, including Delhi, will be published in January 2025.

With Kejriwal stepping down and calling for early elections, the political landscape of Delhi is set to change drastically. The ECI will have to assess the feasibility of holding elections in Delhi alongside Maharashtra, taking into account logistical and practical considerations.

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