In a surprising turn of events, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is scrambling to find a new leader for Delhi after Arvind Kejriwal’s sudden resignation. The party is holding a series of crucial meetings to select a successor, starting with the Political Affairs Committee’s gathering on Monday evening at Kejriwal’s official residence.
Kejriwal’s resignation comes amidst mounting corruption allegations, which have prompted him to step down with a promise to return only once he receives a “certificate of honesty” from the people. This decision follows his recent bail from Tihar Jail in connection with an excise policy graft case. The chief minister’s pledge to clear his name before resuming office has thrown the party into a state of urgency.
In response, AAP has begun evaluating potential candidates to fill the chief ministerial role. The contenders include prominent Delhi ministers such as Atishi, Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Kailash Gahlot. Additionally, there is discussion around MLAs from the reserved category, like Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla, and even Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, as possible candidates.
Kejriwal’s resignation was announced during a speech at the party headquarters on Sunday, where he addressed his supporters and vowed not to return to office until his integrity is vindicated by the public. He also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he claimed was an attempt to paint him as corrupt, while accusing the BJP of failing to deliver on their promises of better education and free electricity due to their own corruption.
In his address, Kejriwal defended his decision not to resign following his arrest, stating his deep respect for democracy and the Constitution. He also challenged the BJP’s tactics, suggesting that non-BJP chief ministers should continue to govern even if they face legal issues, rather than resigning under pressure.
As the AAP navigates this leadership transition, the party faces the dual challenge of choosing a capable new chief minister while addressing the public’s concerns about the integrity of its leadership. The coming days will be crucial in determining not just the future of Delhi’s government, but also the trajectory of AAP as it continues to confront both internal and external pressures.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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