Kejriwal’s Political Masterstroke: Outsmarting BJP

Arvind Kejriwal has once again outwitted the BJP. By announcing his resignation as Delhi’s Chief Minister, he has delivered a blow to the BJP’s election strategies. Kejriwal’s politics are not just about what is done but about what can be achieved. He consistently defies conventional politics, which is why his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has repeatedly managed to outmaneuver the BJP.

In 2013, when the AAP came into power, Kejriwal took an unprecedented step in Indian politics by going to jail as the Delhi Chief Minister. During his six-month imprisonment, he resisted pressure from the BJP to resign. Now, after being granted bail by the Supreme Court, Kejriwal is stepping down from his role, which significantly disrupts the BJP’s plans for the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 2025.

Kejriwal first stunned the BJP in 2013 when his party emerged as a major player in Delhi politics. Despite the BJP winning 31 seats and the AAP 28 in a hung Assembly, Kejriwal formed a government with Congress’s support. His first term lasted only 49 days, during which he accused the BJP and Congress of opposing his anti-corruption policies.

In 2015, Kejriwal made the BJP the opposition party by winning 67 out of 70 seats. He reached out to voters, apologizing for his earlier resignation and asked for a second chance, which he received with an overwhelming mandate.

In 2020, Kejriwal formed a government again with 62 seats but faced turmoil with the Delhi excise policy case. Despite his arrest and the BJP’s expectations for him to resign, Kejriwal defied expectations and remained steadfast. He compared the legal challenges to the struggles of freedom fighters, positioning himself as a moral crusader against an oppressive regime.

Now, by resigning as Chief Minister, Kejriwal is removing himself from the label of a “CM out on bail,” thus denying the BJP a key attack point. His move is designed to distance the AAP’s Delhi government from the corruption allegations and to present a fresh face in the CM’s role.

Kejriwal’s resignation from the ‘Sheeshmahal’ and the appointment of Atishi as his successor are strategic moves aimed at rejuvenating his political image and keeping the BJP on the back foot. His political maneuvers continue to impress and astonish, making him a master of political strategy and surprise.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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