How did Arvind Kejriwal arrive at decision to step down? AAP insiders explain

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had decided to resign from his post while he was in jail in connection with the liquor policy case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) insiders told India Today TV.
However, the AAP chief was firm about not stepping down from the post of Chief Minister while incarcerated, and instead planned to resign only after being released, they said.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal declared his intent to resign within the next two days. He also called for early elections in the national capital, vowing not to assume the Chief Minister’s role again until the public grants him a “certificate of honesty”.
“Arvind Kejriwal had already made up his mind to resign while still in jail, in the wake of corruption charges levelled against him. However, he decided that he would not step down while incarcerated. Instead, he planned to resign only after being released,” AAP sources said.
They also said that the AAP chief informed top leaders of his party about his intention to resign well in advance.
“Despite being behind bars, Kejriwal was firm about stepping down if the allegations gained traction. Before making his resignation public, he discussed his plans with the top leaders of his party. – This strategy was to ensure that his following actions were transparent and not influenced by his incarceration,” sources added.
Notably, many of AAP Delhi MLAs and leaders got to know about the ballistic announcement only during Arvind Kejriwal’s speech on Sunday noon.
Sources also said that legal opinions from senior Supreme Court lawyers — who have recently handled the party’s and the AAP chief’s legal matters — were sought before the final announcement.
Notably, Kejriwal said that neither he nor Manish Sisodia would be part of the Delhi Cabinet unless the voters elect them back to power.
“The AAP Chief has put himself up for a litmus test in the people’s court. Manish Sisodia (who is facing similar allegations in the Delhi Excise Policy case) too has to go through a similar litmus test,” a senior AAP leader told India Today.
This would also mean both the top leaders of the AAP will be free from government affairs and can focus on the organisational work.
Interestingly, many BJP leaders are now asking Kejriwal to dissolve the Delhi Assembly. When asked why the Delhi Assembly is not being dissolved, a senior AAP said, “You can’t take such risks (with the BJP). Last time when the President rule was imposed in Delhi (following Kejriwal’s resignation as Delhi CM in 2014), the Assembly was on suspension for nearly a year”.
“There is no need to dissolve the assembly to seek fresh elections in a state where the Assembly polls are to happen in six months window,” Delhi Minister Atishi said.
Sources also said that Kejriwal, who was released on bail from Tihar Jail on Friday (September 13), will even vacate the Chief Minister’s house (the controversial 6 Flagstaff Marg residence) within 15 days after resigning from the top post.
Meanwhile, the BJP termed the move as an “emotional card” and a “confession of crime”. The saffron party also wondered if he offered to quit the post because of an infight within his Aam Aadmi Party.
“When Arvind Kejriwal talked about resigning, it became a confession of his crime. He accepted that the charges levelled against him were such that he could not continue as chief minister,” BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said while speaking to reporters.