Since the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party's chief Arvind Kejriwal, the burning question is who will lead the party and government in the national capital. Until Kejriwal's arrest, Sunita Kejriwal, a former IRS officer (batch of 1993) and a homemaker, remained in the background. However, in AAP's hour of crisis, her role is seemingly evolving. She's now engaging in press conferences, her inaugural media interaction widely shared by AAP supporters on social media. Furthermore, Kejriwal's adversaries suggest he could delegate command to his wife.
Will Sunita Kejriwal become Chief Minister of Delhi?
The stance of the Aam Aadmi Party concerning the Chief Minister's office is clear: There will be no change in the leadership of Delhi's government. 'Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi and will remain in the office, even from behind bars,' stated Delhi Minister and senior AAP leader Atishi. AAP has already adopted a 'government from jail' model. CM Kejriwal from Enforcement Directorate's custody has issued directives to his ministers - Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj. More orders from CM Kejriwal are anticipated, regardless of potential judicial custody.
The party believes no legal or constitutional provision prevents an elected representative from continuing as Chief Minister. 'Why should Arvind Kejriwal resign from the CM post? If it happens, it will become BJP's model of arresting opposition CMs to force resignations and topple elected governments in opposition-ruled states,' said Delhi Minister Atishi to India Today.
What role will Sunita Kejriwal play?
AAP anticipated ED's knock on their party chief's door, hence roles were pre-defined. Everyone from Sunita Kejriwal to ministers like Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, to AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, were included. Part insiders hint that Sunita Kejriwal will amplify her public presence in her husband's absence, leveraging her image and messages to garner emotional support for the party and Arvind Kejriwal. She may soon be seen reading more of his letters, whether related to Delhi affairs or Congress's national political messaging.
A Thoughtful Strategy
This is a tactic also employed in Jharkhand by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Post-ED's arrest of Jharkhand's former CM Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren started public appearances. Upon finishing his India Jodo Justice Yatra in Mumbai, Kalpana delivered her first political speech from a grand stage, accusing BJP of the unfair arrest of a tribal chief minister and refusing to bow down to BJP demands.
Aam Aadmi Party is all set for a mega rally in the national capital on March 31. In the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, Sunita Kejriwal canvassed door-to-door for her husband in the New Delhi constituency. Meanwhile, party insiders deny possibilities of Sunita Kejriwal assuming Delhi's CM office, rumor has it political pundits believe mimicking the Lalu-Rabri model would be political suicide.
A Former IIT Associate Professor Running the Organization
While Sunita Kejriwal appeals emotionally on behalf of the AAP chief, a former IIT Delhi associate professor, Sandeep Pathak, is managing the organization in Kejriwal's absence. Sandeep Pathak, the national organization secretary of AAP, came into the limelight after the party's resounding success in the Punjab 2022 assembly elections. The brain behind AAP's Punjab campaign, his organization stature soared immediately post-victory, and he was sent to the Rajya Sabha. In Kejriwal's absence, Pathak manages organizational tasks and dialogues with India Block members, his grip on party cadre and files increasingly evident from a recent meeting in Delhi's Civic Center with AAP Delhi MLAs and councilors. His speech outlined the details of the upcoming movement and the call to action against BJP.
