Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has resigned this evening as his government failed to introduce its ambitious Jan Lokpal Bill due to lack of majority. He announced the decision after the cabinet meeting. He said that his cabinet has recommended to the Lt. Governor for immediate dissolution of Legislative Assembly and holding of fresh elections. Mr Kejriwal said that during the short duration, the Aam Aadmi Party has been in power tried to fulfill some of the major promises made in its election manifesto.
Delhi government's efforts to introduce the Jan Lokpal Bill did not get majority support for tabling it in the floor of the Assembly with 42 MLAs voting against the bill. Speaker M S Dhir said that the bill can not be introduced in the house as only 27 members are in favouring it. Voting was taken up this afternoon following pandemonium in the house with opposition parties insisting for it.
Earlier, amid chaos Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he had introduced the bill in the assembly and also called for a discussion on it. However, opposition members objected to the introduction of the bill saying it is unconstitutional. Reacting to the opposition demand, the Chief Minister said there is no such provision under the constitution to take prior approval of the Centre before placing a bill for approval in the state assembly.
Leader of the Opposition Dr. Harsh Vardhan said in the floor that the government did not have prior approval from the Lieutenant Governor to introduce the bill. He said his party will support passage of the bill if it is placed properly under constitutional procedures.
Talking to reporters after the adjournment of the House, Pradesh Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said that his party is committed to fight corruption. He said, his party MLAs did not vote against the Bill but voted in favour of the message sent by the Lt Governor to the Assembly. He said, his Congress is not against Arvind Kejriwal and this government.
Earlier replying to the debate in the house, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that BJP and Congress did not allow introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill because of FIR against Industrialist Mukesh Ambani for alleged irregularities in gas pricing.
Delhi Assembly has been adjourned sine die. Speaker M S Dhir announced this after passage of the appropriation bill in the house.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court agreed to hear on Tuesday a plea against LG's power to prevent tabling of a bill in the Assembly.
After announcing the decision at his party office in New Delhi, Mr Kejriwal left for Rajniwas to tender his resignation to Lt. Governor.
AIR correspondent reports, the Aam Aadmi Party which got 28 seats in the last year Assembly Elections formed the government with the support of 8 Congress MLAs and lone JD(U) MLA and one independent. Arvind Kejriwal became Chief Minister on 28th December, 2013. The BJP which emerged as the single largest party with 31 seats and its ally Akali Dal got one seat had failed to from the government due to lack of majority in the 70 member Assembly.
