Centre closely monitoring events as AAP maintains Kejriwal would take over the government from prison

NEW DELHI: With AAP’s insistence that the party chief would continue to lead the government from behind bars, the Centre is closely observing the developments as Arvind Kejriwal, who was remanded in six days of ED custody on Friday in the Delhi excise policy scam case, digs in his heels by remaining in his position as Delhi CM.

A CM must be on hand to call and preside over Cabinet sessions in addition to signing official documents.

Despite his reluctance to sign documents, Kejriwal continues to lead the government and chair the Cabinet sessions. The current commander appoints a second-in-command to act in his place for the duration of the situation while he is absent or unable to perform duties. Even though a PM or CM may always use technology to do their official tasks even when they are not physically present, Kejriwal is jailed; therefore, this option is not accessible to him.
Additionally, Delhi jail regulations limit an undertrial’s access to certain amenities, including a legal defence, family member legal consultations, and the signature of just the vakalatnama. This basically implies that a CM who has been detained and is accused is not allowed to sign official papers, files, or call a Cabinet meeting.