Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to step down as the Delhi CM, barely two days after his release from jail on bail granted by the Supreme Court, emerged as the story of the week in the Urdu dailies amidst their coverage of the high-stakes elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Highlighting that Kejriwal has vowed not to sit on the CM’s chair until people give him a “certificate of honesty” and that he would give an “agnipariskha (trial by fire)”, the dailies sought to decipher whether this gamble taken by the AAP leader on his political future would again prove to be his “masterstroke” against the BJP. INQUILAB Commenting on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to resign as the Delhi CM, the New Delhi edition of Inquilab, in its editorial on September 17, says that Kejriwal’s sudden move has stumped everyone, especially his principal adversary BJP. It points out that the AAP was born out of an anti-graft movement, but its entire top brass was sent to jail after being slapped with corruption charges in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. “The AAP has still remained united, which is especially significant in these times of defections and shifting loyalties involving parties and turncoats devoid of principles and ideologies,” the editorial states. Despite the incarceration of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia, the AAP did not unravel, which gave a fillip to Kejriwal’s stewardship, it says. However, it adds, the party realised it would not be enough for its revival given that "the entire liquor policy affair was an assault on its core identity". "So, to address this, Kejriwal sprang his resignation surprise that caught the BJP off guard.” The daily writes that Kejriwal’s move could be aimed at various targets. “Firstly, he is going back to the people to get the stains of graft allegations washed. He would also showcase his government’s work — schools, clinics, free power and water etc. — to woo them,” it says. Secondly, by picking a new face to helm the three-term AAP government, he would also look to offset any possible anti-incumbency. This would also give him time to focus on streamlining his party and building up its poll campaign, the edit says. “Kejriwal has called for early elections along with Maharashtra in November. He may be thereby also looking to ride a resurgent Opposition bloc’s growing campaign against the BJP in such poll-bound states.” URDU TIMES With the Haryana fray heating up ahead of the October 5 Assembly polls, the Mumbai-based Urdu Times, in its September 12 editorial, points out that troubles are mounting for the ruling BJP, which is facing a tough battle with the Congress. The BJP had swept the 2019 parliamentary elections by winning the state’s all 10 seats, but its tally went down to five in the recent Lok Sabha polls with the remaining five seats bagged by the Congress, the editorial notes. “The BJP has already been facing farmers’ resentment. And now Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has taken a plunge into politics as a Congress candidate,” it says. “Phogat’s candidature seems to be having an impact across the state, especially among women voters,” the daily writes. Haryana is the state from where PM Modi had launched the "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" campaign several years ago with the objective of improving India's child sex ratio and ensuring gender equality through access to education, it says. Noting that Phogat emerged as a key face of wrestlers’ protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the editorial says the people of Haryana are also hurt over the “injustice” she had suffered at the Paris Olympics, where she was disqualified ahead of her final match for the gold medal because she exceeded the permissible weight limit by just grams. “Haryana’s khap panchayats have backed Phogat and are honouring her with their own gold medals. The BJP’s fate in the polls could be sealed by three sections of Haryana voters — farmers, Jats and women,” the daily states. To offset its “anti-incumbency”, the BJP has denied tickets to a slew of its sitting MLAs, including ministers, it says. “Phogat has shown courage by choosing to enter the political ring. She is Haryana’s daughter, banking on people’s support to sail through her electoral bout.” SIASAT Referring to the BJP’s attack on Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on various issues like reservation, which he made in interactions during his recent visit to the United States, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its leader on September 12, says while the ruling BJP and the Opposition have significant political and ideological differences, it has now descended into “personal enmity and biases”. “Rahul Gandhi in particular has continued to remain in the BJP’s crosshairs. Earlier, the pro-establishment trolls and media used to target Gandhi. But with his emergence in the constitutional role of the LoP after the Lok Sabha polls, even senior BJP leaders and ministers have started gunning for him,” the daily says, adding that both Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are among those who have criticised the Congress leader. The editorial points out that Shah has alleged that “standing with forces that conspire to divide the country and making anti-national statements have become a habit for Rahul Gandhi and the Congress”. These are not routine political criticism, it says. “These are serious allegations. As the Home Minister, the country’s internal security is Shah’s responsibility. His words carry weight. If he is saying that Gandhi’s statements are anti-national, then it begs the question, why are cases not being registered against the LoP? Why is Gandhi not being prosecuted to ensure his punishment?” the edit asks. “However, if such claims are being made just for political reasons, then it is unfortunate. The political rivalries and differences should not be allowed to involve issues of national interest or security. Pointing fingers at Gandhi on these grounds just for political gains is not fair.”
