What if the Delhi High Court approves bail for Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case this time? A host of challenges are awaiting the Delhi chief minister’s immediate attention as the country’s capital city is reeling under an unprecedented water shortage and a deadly heatwave that has claimed many lives already. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has to tackle these issues as quickly as possible, as Delhi assembly elections are scheduled to be held early next year.
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The Delhi High Court said it will pass the final order on Kejriwal’s bail in the next two-three days. If granted bail, Kejriwal’s situation will be a bit different from the last time — when the Supreme Court granted the CM an interim bail, allowing him to participate in the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
ALSO READ: SC’s five interim bail conditions for Arvind Kejriwal
Recently, a trial court in Delhi granted bail to Kejriwal, who was held for his alleged involvement in the Delhi Excise Policy ‘scam’ case. The Rouse Avenue Court said in its bail order on June 20 that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) failed to give any direct evidence against the applicant (Kejriwal) in respect of the proceeds of crime.
A day later, the ED challenged the order of Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court before the high court. The ED argued in its petition that the June 20 order granting regular bail to Kejriwal was passed without giving adequate opportunity for a hearing to the ED. The agency listed several other reasons for opposing the trial court’s order. Tap here to read in details
Now, as the hearing in the Delhi High Court is underway, here’s a look at the challenges Arvind Kejriwal stares at in the times ahead:
1. What if Kejriwal is not granted bail? If denied bail, Kejriwal will have to remain in jail in connection with the excise policy scam case. His absence reportedly affected the city’s governance. A Times of India report claimed that department heads handled everyday duties, but significant policy directions and guidelines are awaiting Kejriwal’s nod, especially as assembly elections near. Kejriwal is the Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor.
2. What if Kejriwal is granted bail? In this case, Kejriwal, being the Delhi CM and the AAP’s national convenor, may find himself in the midst of struggles in the wake of the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi. Here’s a look at tasks before Kejriwal:
A. Delhi Assembly Elections: After witnessing a setback in the Lok Sabha Elections in Delhi and Punjab — the two states where the AAP is currently in power — the AAP is gearing up for the Delhi Assembly Elections in the first half of 2025.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections, the AAP lost the polls in Delhi and Punjab but saw a gain in its vote share compared to the last Lok Sabha polls. However, the Lok Sabha election results may not necessarily pose a threat to the AAP. The party had won the 2020 and 2015 Delhi Assembly elections with a whopping majority, despite losing the 2019 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the national capital.
| States | 2019 Lok Sabha Elections (Vote share) | 2024 Lok Sabha Elections (Vote share) |
| Delhi | 18.20% | 24.30% |
| Punjab | 18.27.4% (1 seat) | 26.2% (Won 3 of 13 seats) |
B. Delhi water crisis
The Delhi government has been facing an uphill task in dealing with the water crisis reported in parts of the city amid the sweltering heatwave conditions. This crisis and the political row stemming from it are feared to give rise to an anti-incumbency wave against the AAP government in the city.
The city government demanded neighbouring Haryana to release more water, but in vain. On Friday, June 21, Delhi Water Minister Atishi began an indefinite hunger strike over the water crisis in the national capital.
“Delhi water comes through Haryana and Haryana gets water from Punjab. The Punjab government says that we won’t stop Haryana’s water supply. However, the BJP government in Haryana isn’t doing the same,” Atishi said on Friday.
However, Haryana Minister Dr Abhe Singh Yadav said the state “has nothing to do with this issue” and hinted at an “internal issue”. He said, “Protest won’t bring water. She (Delhi Minister Atishi) is wasting time in protests. She should utilise this time to improve the internal administration of Delhi…”
Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also said, “…I can assure you that there is no shortage of water. If tanker mafia is curbed and stopped, then water can reach every house in Delhi.”
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Published: 21 Jun 2024, 02:32 PM IST