Kejriwal’s move prompts government to draft sack-ministers bill
According to government sources, the primary objective behind introducing the Bill is to highlight and expose corruption in politics while simultaneously building a strong narrative that resonates with the public. The move is designed not only as a legislative measure but also as a strategic step to wage a perception battle against the Opposition, portraying them as resistant to transparency and accountability. By focusing attention on corruption, the government aims to strengthen its political positioning and project itself as committed to clean governance.
New Delhi:
The Centre has decided to introduce a new law that would allow the removal of Chief Ministers and ministers who remain in jail for more than a month after being charged with serious offences. According to top government sources, this move was directly influenced by the events that unfolded last year when former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refused to step down after his arrest in a corruption case.
This unusual arrangement allowed Mr. It was only after he secured bail in September that he finally resigned, declaring that he would seek to reclaim the post based on the “verdict of the people’s court” during the Assembly election.
After his resignation, AAP minister Atishi stepped in as Chief Minister, leading the government until the Delhi Assembly election in February this year. However, the party’s reign came to an end when the BJP emerged victorious, marking a significant political shift in the capital.
Government insiders revealed that the idea of such a law was first considered immediately after Mr. However, the leadership felt that pushing the legislation at that time might be viewed by the Opposition as an act of “vendetta politics.” To avoid fueling that narrative, the government waited. Eventually, after AAP’s electoral defeat, the timing seemed more appropriate to present the law as a necessary reform for ensuring accountability in politics.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has been busy cornering the government on multiple fronts, particularly over the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Bihar and Congress’s sharp accusations of “vote theft.” Against this charged political backdrop, the government plans to frame the new law as a decisive anti-corruption measure. Any protest by the Opposition against it, sources said, would be portrayed as resistance to cleaner politics and reluctance to support transparency.
Anticipating criticism, government sources have also pushed back against allegations that the law could become a tool to target non-BJP Chief Ministers through central agencies. They emphasized that the law only applies after an arrest has been made following due legal process. “At any stage, the individual has the option of approaching the courts for relief. This is not a whimsical mechanism; it respects judicial oversight,” one senior official clarified.
By bringing in this legislation, the Centre hopes to create a framework that prevents long-running governance crises when sitting Chief Ministers or ministers are imprisoned but refuse to resign. Beyond the politics, the move is being projected as a step towards strengthening democracy by ensuring that those in power uphold not just the letter but also the spirit of accountability in public life.