A new CM will enable AAP to accelerate its welfare schemes ahead of Delhi poll

A new person at the helm would also force the BJP to find a new set of reasons to target the AAP dispensation in Delhi

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s sudden announcement on Sunday about relinquishing the Delhi Chief Minister’s chair within two days is one of a piece with his familiar playbook of initiating surprise moves in order to reclaim the narrative and set the terms of debate. A closer look, however, also reveals that the AAP leader, by stepping aside to get an endorsement from the people’s court on his innocence vis-a-vis corruption charges, is bidding to retain the functionality of the post before the city-state votes for its next government.

A new CM would be able to ensure the continuance of welfare schemes of the AAP government in Delhi and bolster the ‘Kejriwal model of governance’ to safeguard the party’s prospects of retaining power in the next Assembly election. Its populist agenda has served the party well in the national capital and pitchforked it to power in neighbouring Punjab.

Having a new CM will make it easier for AAP to announce and implement new schemes such as its promised ₹1,000 every month for women above 18 years of age and fix existing schemes with fewer restrictions. A new person at the helm would also force the BJP to find a new set of reasons to target the AAP dispensation in Delhi.

The Supreme Court’s bail conditions for Mr. Kejriwal had raised questions on whether he could call Cabinet meetings, as the file for it has to be signed by the CM and does not need the Central government-appointed Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s approval, according to officials. The implementation of new schemes and extension of several key schemes need Cabinet approval.

The AAP government’s ₹1,000 stipend for women is stuck as it is yet to get Cabinet and other approvals. Several other schemes are also stuck for different reasons – including a flagship government job portal, a scheme under which students could avail free coaching at premier private centres for various competitive exams, and doorstep delivery of government services.

While AAP’s official stand even before the CM walked out of jail on Friday was that bail conditions would not affect his work as Chief Minister, party insiders admitted after he walked out of prison that there is confusion and they will move the apex court to relax the bail conditions. One of the BJP’s contentions behind its demand for Mr. Kejriwal’s resignation has been the fact that the CM would not be able to function due to the bail conditions and the public would suffer.

Over the years, though AAP’s politics is laced with Hindutva and nationalism, at the core of the party’s electoral pitch is its slew of welfare measures and “pro-people” policies. It’s a formula current party leaders honed from the days they were part of the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement.