Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and a prominent opposition leader in India, has made the bold decision to contest the upcoming elections while being held in jail.
Kejriwal, a key figure in the opposition alliance challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was arrested on March 21 as part of a longstanding corruption investigation.
The arrest stems from allegations of corruption, and Kejriwal remains in custody as the legal process unfolds.
Despite his incarceration, Delhi's Education Minister and member of Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Atshi Marleena Singh, has emphasized that legal provisions allow Kejriwal to retain his position as Chief Minister.
Singh stated, "It is clear that Arvind Kejriwal will continue as the Chief Minister of Delhi," asserting that unless he is tried and convicted, he is entitled to remain in office.
Furthermore, Singh suggested that Kejriwal's resignation without due process could set a precedent for the removal of other opposition chief ministers.
The Enforcement Directorate, India's primary financial investigation agency, responsible for Kejriwal's arrest, has also initiated probes against several other state chief ministers or their relatives, all of whom are political opponents of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Narendra Modi.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to enjoy strong backing from his supporters, critics allege that he utilizes law enforcement agencies to intimidate his political opponents.
Arvind Kejriwal, aged 55, has vehemently denied the accusations leveled against him. His supporters staged a rally in Delhi, asserting that the charges were politically motivated and aimed at silencing Modi's adversaries ahead of the elections.
Opponents of Narendra Modi and international human rights organizations have consistently raised concerns about the erosion of democracy in India.
According to Atashi Marleena Singh, the government files baseless cases against its adversaries, followed swiftly by arrests by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
With approximately one billion Indian citizens set to vote in the upcoming six-week parliamentary elections commencing on April 19, tensions are running high.
In a show of support for Modi, hundreds of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers marched in New Delhi, demanding Arvind Kejriwal's resignation. BJP lawmaker Manoj Tiwari emphasized, "You may lead a gang from jail, but governance cannot be conducted behind bars."
