The deliberations of the Delhi Assembly today will revolve around the proposition of confidence advanced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, showcasing his resolve amidst assertions from his party regarding the BJP’s endeavors to “entice” AAP MLAs. Preceding the trust vote, Arvind Kejriwal made a virtual appearance before a Delhi court this morning, addressing five prior summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the liquor policy case. The judicial hearing on this matter is scheduled for March 16.
The court had summoned Mr. Kejriwal last week, emphasizing his legal obligation to adhere to the summons.
The ED has lodged a complaint, alleging deliberate defiance of summons by the Delhi chief minister, who purportedly furnished inadequate justifications. The agency voiced concern that if a prominent public figure like him flouts the law, it would establish an erroneous precedent for the general populace, i.e., the Aam Aadmi.
Mr. Kejriwal’s motion of confidence precedes the ED’s sixth summons for his appearance on February 19.
To date, Mr. Kejriwal has disregarded five summonses, with him and his party consistently denouncing their legality and accusing the agency of ulterior motives aimed at his arrest.
Presenting the confidence motion in the Assembly yesterday, Mr. Kejriwal revealed that two AAP MLAs confided in him about being approached by BJP members, who insinuated his impending arrest. Allegations were made that 21 AAP legislators were willing to defect, with inducements reaching ₹ 25 crore to join the BJP. Despite these advances, the MLAs affirmed their allegiance to AAP. Mr. Kejriwal asserted his determination to uphold unity within his party.
This marks the second instance of the Arvind Kejriwal administration seeking a vote of confidence. With 62 MLAs in the 70-member Assembly, AAP maintains a significant majority over the BJP’s eight.
Since the inception of the summons by the Enforcement Directorate, speculations have abounded regarding the potential arrest of the Delhi chief minister following interrogation.
With three AAP leaders incarcerated—Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Satyendra Jain—AAP has braced itself for contingencies and explored avenues for Mr. Kejriwal to continue his duties as Chief Minister, even from confinement.
The CBI alleges the involvement of liquor companies in formulating the excise policy, promising a 12% profit. A liquor consortium, dubbed the “South Group,” allegedly facilitated kickbacks, a portion of which found its way to public officials. The Enforcement Directorate has levelled accusations of kickback laundering.
The BJP contends that funds from the purported scam financed AAP’s expansive campaign in Gujarat, where it garnered 12.91% of the votes, consolidating its status as a national party.
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