Swati Maliwal Urges Kejriwal to Appoint Dalit MLA as Opposition Leader in Delhi
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Synopsis
On February 19, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal urged AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to appoint a Dalit MLA as the Leader of Opposition in Delhi, reminding him of his unfulfilled promise from the 2022 Punjab elections. This request aligns with the ongoing discussions about the opposition leadership post-elections.
Key Takeaways
- Swati Maliwal calls for a Dalit MLA as LoP.
- Kejriwal's 2022 promise remains unfulfilled.
- Importance of equality and justice in politics emphasized.
- New Delhi's political landscape shifting post-elections.
- BJP won 48 out of 70 Delhi Assembly seats.
New Delhi, Feb 19 (NationPress) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal reached out to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, requesting that a Dalit MLA be appointed as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly.
Maliwal's appeal comes at a crucial point when discussions regarding the opposition leadership in Delhi are ongoing following the recent elections.
In her correspondence, Maliwal expressed her wishes for Kejriwal’s well-being and emphasized the importance of focusing on his health and peace of mind post-election results.
She reminded him of a commitment made during the 2022 Punjab elections, where Kejriwal pledged to appoint a Dalit Deputy Chief Minister if AAP emerged victorious. Maliwal highlighted that this promise remains unfulfilled even after three years.
"You will recall that during the Punjab elections of 2022, you promised that after winning, we would appoint a Dalit Deputy Chief Minister. It is unfortunate that even after three years, this promise remains unfulfilled," stated Maliwal.
She further pointed out that with the current need for a Leader of Opposition in Delhi, this presents an excellent opportunity for Kejriwal to honor his earlier commitment.
Maliwal urged him to "appoint a Dalit MLA from the party as the Leader of Opposition in Delhi".
She stressed that appointing a Dalit as the LoP would not merely be a political move but a crucial step toward realizing the fundamental principles of equality and justice that AAP claims to uphold.
Maliwal called on Kejriwal to demonstrate that his party is dedicated to enacting the politics of equality and justice in practice, rather than just in rhetoric.
"I urge you to stand by your promise this time and show that you do not just talk about equality, but actually implement it," she wrote.
Maliwal advised Kejriwal to avoid repeating the failures in fulfilling commitments made in Punjab and to make this historic decision for Delhi.
Meanwhile, the inauguration ceremony for the new Chief Minister and cabinet ministers of Delhi is scheduled for Thursday at Ramlila Maidan. The BJP secured victory in the Delhi Assembly election nearly two weeks ago, winning 48 out of 70 seats.
The AAP, which had governed Delhi for a decade, managed to secure only 22 seats, with several prominent leaders, including Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, losing in their respective constituencies. The Congress party failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive time.
