New Delhi chief minister resigns after bribery bail

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of New Delhi and a prominent opposition leader, announced his resignation two days after being granted bail in a bribery case. He was arrested six months prior on allegations of accepting bribes from a liquor distributor, which he has vehemently denied, claiming the charges are politically motivated. His party, the Aam Aadmi Party, is part of a coalition opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, and Kejriwal's arrest has been criticized by opposition figures as an abuse of power by the ruling government. In a public address, Kejriwal asked the public to judge his integrity, stating he would resign in two days. He also called for the upcoming New Delhi elections, scheduled for February, to be moved to November. His supporters celebrated his release from custody, while some leaders from Modi's party cautioned that his bail does not equate to an acquittal. The bribery allegations involve claims that Kejriwal's administration accepted approximately 1 billion rupees ($12 million) in exchange for altering a liquor sales policy to benefit private companies. This incident is part of a broader pattern of investigations targeting opposition leaders ahead of national elections, raising concerns about the misuse of federal agencies for political gain. Kejriwal, who founded the Aam Aadmi Party in 2012 with a focus on combating corruption, has become a significant figure in Indian politics. His resignation and the surrounding events highlight the ongoing tensions between opposition parties and the ruling government, as well as the challenges faced by political leaders in the current climate of allegations and investigations.