Arvind Kejriwal stares at tricky road ahead if granted bail this time. Here’s why

If granted bail, Kejriwal’s situation will be a bit different from the last time — when the Supreme Court had granted the CM an interim bail, allowing him to participate in the campaigning for the Lok Sabha Elections.

Recently, a trial court in Delhi granted bail to Kejriwal, who was held for his alleged involvement in the Delhi Excise Policy ‘scam’ case. The Rouse Avenue court said in its bail order on June 20 that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) failed to give any direct evidence against the applicant (Kejriwal) in respect of the proceeds of crime.

A day later, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenged the order of Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court before the high court on Friday. The ED argued in its petition that the June 20 order granting regular bail to Kejriwal was passed without granting adequate opportunity of hearing to the ED. The agency several other reasons for opposing the trial court’s order. Tap here to read in details

Now, as the hearing in the Delhi High Court is underway, here’s a look at the challenges Arvind Kejriwal stares at in the times ahead:

1. What if Kejriwal is not granted bail? If denied bail, Kejriwal will continue to be remain in jail in connection with excise policy scam case. His absence reportedly affected the city’s governance. A Times of India report claimed that department heads handled everyday duties, but significant policy directions and guidelines awaited Kejriwal’s nod, especially as assembly elections near. Kejriwal is the Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor.

2. What if Kejriwal is granted bail? In this case, Kejriwal may find himself in the midst of struggles in the wake of the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi. Here’s a look at tasks before Kejriwal:

A. Delhi Assembly Elections: After witnessing a setback in the Lok Sabha Elections in Delhi and Punjab — the two states where the AAP is currently in power — the AAP party is gearing up for the Delhi Assembly Elections in first half of 2025.

In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha Elections, the AAP lost the polls in Delhi and Punjab but saw a gain in its vote share as compared to last Lok Sabha polls. However, the Lok Sabha election results may not necessarily pose as a threat to the AAP. The AAP had won the 2020 and 2015 Delhi Assembly elections with a whopping majority, despite losing the 2019 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the national capital.

B. Delhi water crisis

The Delhi government has been facing an uphill task in dealing with the water crisis reported in parts of the city amid the sweltering heatwave conditions. This crisis and the political row stemming from it are feared to give rise to the anti-incumbency against the AAP government in the city

The city government demanded the neighbouring Haryana to release more water, but in no vein. On Friday, June 21, Delhi Water Minister Atishi began an indefinite hunger strike over the water crisis in the national capital.

“Delhi water comes through Haryana and Haryana gets water from Punjab. The Punjab government says that we won’t stop Haryana’s water supply. However, the BJP government in Haryana isn’t doing the same,” Atishi said on Friday.

However, Haryana Minister Dr Abhe Singh Yadav said the state “has nothing to do with this issue” and hinted at an “internal issue”. He said, “Protest won’t bring water. She (Delhi Minister Atishi) is wasting time in protests. She should utilise this time to improve the internal administration of Delhi…”

Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also said, “…I can assure you that there is no shortage of water. If tanker mafia is curbed and stopped, then water can reach every house in Delhi.”

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Published: 21 Jun 2024, 02:32 PM IST