NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced plans to conduct a "referendum" in Delhi and other parts of the country to gauge public opinion on whether Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should resign in the event of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or continue to govern from jail.
This decision was made during a meeting led by Kejriwal with AAP councillors, although no specific date for the "referendum" has been revealed.
Kejriwal had recently been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning regarding its money laundering investigation related to an alleged Delhi excise policy scandal, but he declined the summons, claiming it was politically motivated.
AAP MLA and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) incharge, Durgesh Pathak, accused the BJP of plotting to imprison Kejriwal under false pretenses, hoping that he would step down as chief minister, resulting in the AAP's demise. He asserted that the BJP has resorted to such tactics in areas where the AAP contests elections, and it has realized that this is its only means of survival.
During the meeting on Tuesday, which lasted approximately one and a half hours, all AAP councillors unanimously encouraged Kejriwal not to consider resignation, even if he is arrested, and instead to govern from jail to expose alleged conspiracies against him.
Kejriwal assured the councillors that he would make a final decision after consulting with party leaders and workers in Punjab and other regions.
Pathak disclosed that the AAP would organize a "referendum" in Delhi by engaging with households to seek their views on Kejriwal's potential resignation if he is arrested by the ED or his continuation of governance from jail. This exercise will also extend to other parts of the country through public meetings.
Previously, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case in February, and his recent bail application was rejected by the Supreme Court. AAP MP Sanjay Singh was also arrested by the ED last month following a lengthy raid at his residence in connection with the alleged scam.
(With agency inputs)
