NEW DELHI, Sept 17 (Askume) – Indian opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal appointed Delhi minister Aatish as chief minister of the national capital territory on Tuesday, allowing him to focus on elections next year after he secures a bail to win the new authority.
Aatish, 43, who goes by only one name, is one of the founding members of the decade-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which rose to national prominence after gaining prominence in the anti-corruption drive led by Kejriwal and as a staunch critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kejriwal, 56, was arrested and jailed in March in a corruption case that he described as “politically motivated”.
“Though the responsibility is mine, I will protect the people of Delhi and run the government under the guidance of Arvind Kejriwal,” Aatish told reporters.
Kejriwal was granted bail by India’s Supreme Court on Friday, nearly six months after he was detained for alleged corruption in the capital’s liquor sales policy. Kejriwal and the AAP have denied the charges.
After his release, Kejriwal said he would resign as chief minister to focus on campaigning for the Delhi assembly elections scheduled in mid-February. AAP leaders said Kejriwal would submit his resignation to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday.
Kejriwal said he would return as chief minister only if people prove their sincerity by voting for him and his party, a move analysts say is a case of misdirection of vote-seeking strategies.
Kejriwal’s arrest, just weeks before national elections, has prompted the opposition to accuse Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of denying him a fair shake as he seeks a competitive environment for a third consecutive term.
Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party deny the charges and say law enforcement agencies are just doing their job. Last week, the BJP said Kejriwal’s bail did not mean he was innocent.
