Meetings After Meetings, Arvind Kejriwal’s Search For New Chief Minister

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today held one-on-one talks with leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for their feedback on who should be the next Chief Minister of the national capital, a day after he promised to quit from the top post.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, who attended the meeting, told reporters Mr Kejriwal met members of the party’s political affairs committee (PAC) and took their views in the search for a new Chief Minister.

“Yesterday, Kejriwal ji announced he would resign from his post tomorrow. In this regard, the AAP national convenor (Mr Kejriwal) called a meeting of the PAC in which all the senior leaders and cabinet ministers of Delhi were called,” Mr Bharadwaj said.

“He held a one-to-one discussion with all the leaders and ministers regarding the new Chief Minister. Tomorrow, the second session of this meeting will be held with MLAs,” Mr Bharadwaj said.

Mr Kejriwal’s meeting with the MLAs is scheduled at 11.30 am.

#WATCH | Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj says, “Yesterday Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced that he will resign from his post on Tuesday…In this regard, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal called a meeting of the PAC (Political Affairs Committee) in which all… pic.twitter.com/c0JXfMWeUB

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2024

After he got bail in the Delhi liquor policy case, Mr Kejriwal announced he will step down as Chief Minister and let the people of Delhi decide his fate. The Delhi Chief Minister, who had once resigned, only to be voted back to power in a massive victory, this time also appeared to be confident of winning the gamble he took. He indicated the AAP was ready for early election if it ever came to that.

Assembly polls in Delhi are due in February next year, although Mr Kejriwal demanded the election be held in November along with the Maharashtra polls. He would be looking to choose a prominent leader who can articulate the party’s position on key issues and has wide acceptability among the party ranks.

Who Will Be Next Delhi Chief Minister

One of the probables is Delhi minister Atishi, who holds key portfolios such as education and public works department. An Oxford University alumnus and a Rhodes scholar, Atishi has worked extensively in the AAP’s flagship exercise to overhaul education in Delhi’s schools.

The other is Saurabh Bharadwaj, a three-time MLA from Greater Kailash and holds portfolios such as vigilance and health in the Arvind Kejriwal government. He, too, was named a minister after Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s arrest in the liquor policy case.

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AAP MP Raghav Chadha also appears to be among the probables. He has earlier worked as a chartered accountant and has been in the AAP since its inception. He has been an MLA from Rajinder Nagar and played a key role in the AAP’s victory in Punjab in the 2022 state polls.

Kailash Gahlot, one of the senior members of the AAP government in Delhi, holds key portfolios such as transport, finance and home affairs.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh, too, is among the party’s most prominent faces for his spirited speeches in parliament. The 52-year-old leader holds a diploma in mining engineering. He is among the founder members of the party and is a member of its national executive and political affairs committee.