On Wednesday, Manish Sisodia, the former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, reported that the party is experiencing strong support during their ‘padyatra’ and expressed hope that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be released from jail soon.
“We are receiving a lot of love during the padyatra. We are hopeful that CM Arvind Kejriwal will also return soon. As soon as he returns, all the pending works of the people will be done soon,” Sisodia told ANI.
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with a money laundering investigation related to alleged irregularities in the now-revoked Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
Manish Sisodia began his padyatra last week, reconnecting with the public after 17 months in detention. Earlier in February 2023, Sisodia was detained by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over allegations concerning the creation and execution of the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy, which was withdrawn amid opposition claims of misconduct.
The CBI alleged that Sisodia was a central figure in the alleged criminal conspiracy, deeply involved in both the formulation and implementation of the policy.
Delhi assembly elections are expected to be held in early 2025. In the 2020 Delhi assembly elections, Congress did not secure any seats, while AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats, and BJP won eight seats.