Wed Sep 18 07:57:20 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Resigns, Calls for Early Elections

**New Delhi, India** – In a dramatic move, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has resigned from his post, citing his desire for a “people’s court” to judge his honesty. This comes days after he was granted bail in a corruption case related to a now-scrapped alcohol sales policy.

Kejriwal, who spent five months in jail, has denied all allegations against him. He has stated that he will only return to the Chief Minister’s chair if his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wins the upcoming assembly elections.

The party has announced that senior Delhi minister Atishi will replace Kejriwal as the leader of the government. Atishi, at 43, becomes the youngest and third woman to serve as Chief Minister of Delhi. She is a well-known education reformer and holds key portfolios in the current government.

Kejriwal has called for advancing the Delhi elections, currently scheduled for February 2024, to November, aligning them with the Maharashtra state elections. However, experts say this is unlikely, citing legal and logistical constraints.

The BJP, AAP’s main opposition, has labeled Kejriwal’s resignation a publicity stunt aimed at gaining public sympathy.

Kejriwal’s arrest was the third in the case, with former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and AAP leader Sanjay Singh also being jailed. Sisodia was granted bail in August after 17 months, while Singh was released on bail in April.

The alcohol sales policy, introduced in 2021, was withdrawn after accusations of irregularities and benefiting private liquor barons. The AAP maintains its innocence and accuses the BJP of using investigating agencies to target opposition leaders.

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