NEW DELHI : After Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation from the post of Chief Minister in Delhi, speculations about his successor are continuing. On Monday, senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the name of the CM has not been discussed yet. A decision on this will be taken in the Legislature Party meeting after Kejriwal’s resignation.
It is believed that Kejriwal is considering a name as his successor who is acceptable to the MLAs but does not become a challenge for the party. Obviously, the AAP leadership would like to choose a prominent leader who can clearly express the party’s position on major issues and is widely acceptable among the party leaders. Some of the names being considered by AAP for the top post include Atishi, Sunita Kejriwal, Gopal Rai and Kuldeep Kumar.
It is understood that in the meeting of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee held today, the name of the next Chief Minister of Delhi was discussed. However, AAP party leaders are refraining from saying anything until Chief Minister Kejriwal resigns. Discussion on the names of Kejriwal’s possible successors has intensified. Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that he will not sit on the Chief Minister’s chair until the public gives him a certificate of honesty.
Aatishi Marlena
Among the possible contenders for the post of Chief Minister of Delhi, one name is at the forefront. That of Atishi, MLA from Kalkaji and minister in the Delhi government. Since Arvind Kejriwal went to jail, Atishi has been actively participating in the party’s work along with her government responsibilities. She is the main face of the party’s programs along with the government. Her stature in “AAP” can be gauged from the fact that she is the minister of 13 departments like PWD, Education, Higher Education, Planning, Electricity and Water Resources in the Delhi government. She also played a major role in preparing the election manifesto of the Aam Aadmi Party in the 2013 elections. Arvind Kejriwal had sent a message from Tihar Jail saying that Atishi will hoist the flag in his absence on August 15. But rejecting his advice, Lt. Governor VK Saxena authorized Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot to hoist the flag. Kejriwal’s authorization of Atishi to hoist the flag is an indication of her status in the party.
Gopal Rai
One of the possible contenders for the post of Chief Minister is AAP’s Delhi State Convenor Gopal Rai. He is also a minister in the Delhi government. He holds important departments like Forest-Environment as well as General Administration. Gopal Rai has been associated with Arvind Kejriwal ever since he went on a fast unto death with Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar. Coming from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Gopal Rai is a prominent face among Purvanchal leaders in Delhi.
Kuldeep Kumar
Ever since the news of Arvind’s resignation came out, there is also a discussion that AAP can make a Dalit the Chief Minister. Kuldeep Kumar, MLA from Kondli, can be made the CM. It is expected that making a Dalit the Chief Minister will increase his vote bank. If this happens, for the first time a Dalit will sit on the CM’s chair in Delhi. Its impact will also be far-reaching. Haryana assembly elections are currently underway and Maharashtra elections are proposed in November. Dalit voters are in large numbers in both these states. AAP can try to attract Dalit votes with this step.
Sunita Kejriwal
The person whose name is at the forefront as the next Chief Minister of Delhi is Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal. Like Arvind, she is also a former officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). She resigned from government job in 2016. After Kejriwal’s arrest, she did many road shows and rallies in Delhi during the Lok Sabha elections.
There will be no legal hurdle in making Sunita Kejriwal the Chief Minister. Sunita Kejriwal is not an MLA yet. But this will not come in the way of her becoming the Chief Minister. Actually, after becoming the CM, one has to take membership of the House within six months. Delhi Assembly elections are to be held by February next year, so even without becoming an MLA, Sunita can sit on the CM’s chair till the elections. However, he would like to avoid facing the charge of nepotism.

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