Kejriwal quits as Delhi CM

Arvind Kejriwal, the firebrand Chief Minister of Delhi, quit last night bringing to an end a tumultuous tenure of one and half months in office on top of an anti-graft civil society movement.
Kejriwal took the decision to step down at a meeting of his cabinet here, soon after Delhi legislature, where his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lacked majority of its own, blocked his move to introduce a tough bill to combat corruption.  
Later, he sent his resignation to Delhi's Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
Earlier, speaking in the Delhi legislative assembly, he said, "I will consider myself fortunate if I have to sacrifice my post and my life to end corruption."
He threatened on the floor of the House shortly after Congress and BJP legislators effectively shot down his efforts to bring in anti-corruption legislation -- the key plank of his manifesto in assembly election held last December.
AAP had won 28 seats in Delhi's 70-member assembly and came to power with the help of Congress party which rules India.
But Congress decided not to back Kejriwal in yesterday's vote, claiming the anti-graft bill called Jan Lokpal bill, was unconstitutional.
Last month, Kejriwal had described himself as an "anarchist".
During his tenure as Chief Minister, Kejriwal had initiated a number of populist measures including cutting down of power and water tariff for general consumers and waiving half of electricity bill of defaulters.
The resignation of 45-year-old Kejriwal, a former income tax inspector, came a few days after his government had registered an FIR against India's industrial tycoon Mukesh Ambani, Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily and former Petroleum Minister Murli Deora in connection with alleged irregularities in federal Indian government's move to further hike the price of natural gas extracted by Ambani-led firm.
His party's stunning performance in Delhi assembly polls last December has threatened to alter India's traditional political landscape dominated largely by Congress, BJP and several regional parties.