Through his months in jail, Arvind Kejriwal confounded many by refusing to resign as Delhi chief minister. Now freed on bail, he has caused some more surprise by declaring he would step down in two days.

The Aam Aadmi Party national convener announced his decision on Sunday, claiming the moral high ground two days after his release from Tihar Jail. He, however, signalled he was ready to be back if the AAP won the “agnipariksha” (trial by fire) of the upcoming Assembly polls.

Kejriwal stopped short of dissolving his government, saying the legislature party would choose a new leader who would not be his former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

Sisodia too is out on bail in the same case, relating to alleged corruption in the Delhi government’s now-scrapped excise policy.

Elections in Delhi are due by February. However, Kejriwal requested the Election Commission of India to conduct them along with the Maharashtra polls later this year.

“I will go to every street, I will go to every house and until the public gives its verdict that Kejriwal is honest, I will not sit on the CM’s chair…. I resigned from the post of chief minister after remaining in power for 49 days (in 2014). I resigned for my principles,” Kejriwal said in an address at his party headquarters.

“I spoke to some advocates and told them that my conscience says that I should not sit in the CM’s chair until I was acquitted by the court. They said the case will go on for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years…. Today I have come to your court; I have come to the people’s court. I have come to ask you whether you consider Kejriwal honest or guilty.”

Shocked party workers initially responded with cries of “Naheen (No)!” followed by slogans of “Long live Kejriwal!”

The apex court has restricted Kejriwal from entering the secretariat or signing files other than those that need to go to the lieutenant governor (LG), which can only decrease his government’s popularity further with civic projects already continuing at a slow pace.

“Resigning at this juncture (allows Kejriwal to occupy the) moral high ground… after being released from jail, and is in the interest of the people of Delhi as well,” a party source said.

When Kejriwal’s then minority government resigned in 2014 citing the Congress’s denial of support for a proposed ombudsman law, critics had accused the AAP of behaving like a pressure group rather than a ruling party.

But the party swept the Assembly polls of 2015 and has remained in power since with an overwhelming majority, winning the Municipal Corporation of Delhi as well in 2022. However, it has been unable to elect a single MP to the Lok Sabha from Delhi, despite aligning with the Congress in this year’s general election.

Kejriwal said: “When Lord Ram returned from his exile after 14 years, Sita Maiyya had to undergo the agnipariksha. Today, I have come back from jail and I am ready to undergo the agnipariksha….

“Manish Sisodia also says that he will take over the post of deputy chief minister and education minister of Delhi only when the people of Delhi say that Manish Sisodia is honest.”

Kejriwal cited Bhagat Singh’s Jail Diary to complain that the restrictions on political prisoners like him were worse now than they were before independence.

He also referred to the amended laws that have given the Centre the upper hand in governing Delhi.

“In the last 10 years, these people have left no stone unturned to impose conditions. The LG imposed various conditions,” he said.

“The central government snatched my powers by imposing one law after the other, but I did not let your (the public’s) work (welfare) suffer…. Today, from this forum, I demand that these elections be held in November along with the Maharashtra elections.”

Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders at a party workers' meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. PTI

He, however, advised other Opposition chief ministers against quitting.

“They have filed cases against Siddaramaiahji, Pinarayi Vijayanji, Hemant Sorenji and Mamatadidi…. Ten days ago, a bench of the Supreme Court asked the central government why the government cannot be run from inside the jail. I have proved that the government can be run from jail…. Now, I want to request all the non-BJP chief ministers of the country with folded hands that if the Prime Minister files a fake case against you and puts you in jail, then do not resign. Run the government from jail,” Kejriwal said.

“It is not that we are greedy for the post. The post of chief minister is not important for us. Do not resign, because our Constitution, country and democracy are importantfor us.”

The BJP mocked Kejriwal’s decision. “This 48 hours’ time which he (Kejriwal) has sought is (shrouded) in mystery. He is trying to find a replacement or trying to do some placements…. It is ridiculous for a CM who has an overwhelming majority in the Assembly,” BJP parliamentarian Sudhanshu Trivedi told a news conference.

“If he is having an iota of truth in his intentions and in what he is saying, he should call a meeting of the cabinet, resign as CM and recommend the dissolution of the Assembly.”

Replying to questions at a news conference later in the day, AAP Delhi minister Atishi said: “There is no need for a government to resign when it has less than six months left in office. The Centre and the EC (Election Commission) can conduct elections whenever they like…. The simple reason for resigning after two days is that it is Sunday today and tomorrow is Eid, a holiday.”