Kejriwal regrets quitting Delhi job

(MENAFN- Arab News) New delhi: an indian anti-corruption campaigner who quit as new delhi's top elected official just 49 days into the job apologized for the mistake wednesday after his upstart party fizzled nationally.

"today i would like to apologize to the people of delhi and the people of this country. we have made a mistake and i apologize for our mistake" arvind kejriwal said at a news conference adding that his exit made people think they were running away from responsibility.

kejriwal's aam aadmi or common man's party was formed on the back of hugely popular street protests that galvanized india's middle class against the culture of corruption that is endemic in this nation of 1.2 billion. the election for the delhi state legislature was the party's first outing and even its members were surprised they won 27 out of 70 seats in delhi's assembly in december.

but the minority government resigned in february after congress party voted with the opposition to block a bill to create a strong ombudsman in the capital. rooting out graft and creating the ombudsman position were the party's key aims and kejriwal said the party members left government because they did not want to compromise their principles.

their detractors said kejriwal and his party quit because they were eager to parlay their initial success into nationwide prominence.

but in the recent national election the party won only four seats in india's 543-member lower house of parliament. kejriwal himself lost by a wide margin to the man who will become india's next prime minister narendra modi.

delhi state is now federally ruled in the absence of an elected government.

kejriwal said he would seek a fresh mandate from voters in the next delhi elections. an election date will be decided after the new national government takes office.