The arrest of Delhi's Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, could significantly influence the outcome of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and shape the future of Delhi's administration and governance, according to sources from the BJP, Congress, and AAP. Both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, the main players of the INDIA bloc in Delhi, are of the view that Kejriwal's arrest could boost their political fortunes in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the BJP is reportedly focused on transforming Delhi into a world-class capital territory.
AAP Minister Atishi stated, "The AAP has been and will continue to stand against the BJP to uphold the Constitution of this country... we trust that the Supreme Court will safeguard the nation's democracy."
Arvinder Singh Lovely, the president of the Delhi Congress, who led a delegation to Kejriwal's residence, expressed his support for his party's ally, stating, "The timing of the elections indicates the BJP's fear of our alliance. Democracy is under threat. This is something we expect in Pakistan, not in India."
The BJP, which had started a 400-day plan last year to expose the AAP's alleged involvement in "10 specific scams", including the "DJB scam", for which Kejriwal has also been summoned by the ED, insists that his arrest is a matter of law, not politics.
A senior Congress leader expressed confidence that Kejriwal's arrest would benefit the INDIA bloc's prospects in Delhi, stating, "Both parties have a shared support base across slums, unauthorized colonies, and lower-middle-class households in the city. Kejriwal's arrest will generate a wave of sympathy that will help consolidate our votes."
However, a BJP insider revealed that the party's senior leadership was consulting with legal experts to explore various options for moving forward. "The issue has now reached the courts. If AAP continues its strategy of Kejriwal governing the city from jail, we may argue for the imposition of President's rule to prevent a constitutional crisis. The Centre has repeatedly stated that it needs more control over the functioning of Delhi, the national capital," the source said.
A senior AAP leader acknowledged the possibility of the Lieutenant Governor taking charge of Delhi's governance in the near future. "We suspect that the Delhi Assembly may be put under suspended animation for an indefinite period, during which the L-G will act as the BJP's proxy to govern the city until the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections," the leader said.
The leader added, "Whether they allow the Delhi Assembly to continue after that – a concern we have raised several times – will likely depend on whether the BJP believes it can defeat the AAP in next year's elections."
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