The AAP Chief and Delhi’s Chief Minister faces charges over the city’s controversial liquor policy, sparking political upheaval

In a significant political development, Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and a leading figure in the Indian opposition, was arrested by the country’s financial crime agency over allegations linked to Delhi’s liquor policy. This move has intensified the political struggle between Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of upcoming elections.

Kejriwal’s arrest marks a crucial point for the AAP, with senior party members already incarcerated in connection with the same case, which the AAP denounces as “dirty politics.” Delhi’s finance minister, Atishi Singh, vocally dismissed the charges and announced the party’s intention to seek an immediate Supreme Court hearing against the arrest.

Despite his arrest, Kejriwal will continue his duties as Chief Minister, with his party rallying to defend against what they claim to be politically motivated charges orchestrated by the BJP. The AAP has repeatedly denied any misconduct in the investigation of the 2022 liquor policy, which briefly ended the government’s monopoly over liquor sales in the capital, a policy now retracted.

The controversy surrounding the policy and Kejriwal’s subsequent arrest has led to public protests and condemnation from opposition figures, highlighting the increasing tension between the AAP and the ruling BJP. Kejriwal’s legal team argues that the financial crime agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), is being exploited by the Modi government to undermine AAP’s influence in the impending national elections.

Arvind Kejriwal, who founded the AAP in 2011 with a platform of anti-corruption and governance reform, has become a symbol of opposition to the BJP’s policies. His arrest has not only mobilized AAP supporters, who gathered in protest, but also drawn attention from other opposition parties and figures, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who criticized the government’s approach to arresting elected officials.

As Kejriwal prepares for his court appearance, where charges against him will be detailed, the political and social repercussions of his arrest continue to unfold, reflecting the deep divisions within India’s political landscape. This incident underscores the challenges facing opposition parties as they attempt to consolidate against Modi’s BJP in the upcoming elections.