The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has confirmed that the name of Delhi’s new Chief Minister will be revealed today at 12 noon following a legislative party meeting.
Party leaders are expected to gather at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence this morning at 10:30 am to discuss his successor. Kejriwal is expected to submit his resignation later in the day around 4:30 pm, making way for the new leader to take charge of the government.
On Monday, Kejriwal held private discussions with members of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), AAP’s top decision-making body, to gather feedback on who should succeed him. No details about these discussions have been made public.
Several key figures are being considered for the top post, including Delhi ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, and Kailash Gahlot, along with Dalit leaders Rakhi Birla and Kuldeep Kumar. There has also been speculation that Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita, may be among the potential candidates.
AAP insiders suggest that the next chief minister will likely be chosen from the party’s existing Cabinet ministers or lawmakers. However, there remains a possibility of a surprise pick, with some sources suggesting that a Dalit leader may be selected.
Kejriwal announced his resignation on Sunday, days after being granted bail in the excise policy case. He clarified that his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, who is also involved in the case, will not be his successor.
Kejriwal reiterated his willingness to prove his innocence in court and said he will return only if he wins the people’s mandate in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, set for early next year.
This marks the second time Kejriwal has resigned from his position as chief minister. In 2014, he stepped down after 49 days in office, returning in 2015 after a landslide victory, securing 67 out of 70 assembly seats. AAP currently holds 60 seats in the assembly.
