Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel has informed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal of his decision to retire from electoral politics, citing advancing age as the primary reason. In a letter addressed to Kejriwal, the 76-year-old expressed his gratitude for the respect shown to him by his party colleagues over the years.
Kejriwal responded to Goel’s decision, acknowledging that the move marked an emotional moment. “His guidance has been instrumental in showing us the right direction, both inside and outside the House,” Kejriwal wrote in a post on the microblogging platform X. “Due to his increasing age and health, he had recently expressed his desire to retire from electoral politics, and we respect his decision. Goel sahab has always been, and will continue to be, the guardian of our family. The party will always rely on his experience and services in the future.”
Ram Niwas Goel has served as the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly since 2015. He represents the Shahdara constituency and has been an MLA for several terms. In the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, he won his seat by a margin of 11,731 votes, defeating Jitender Singh Shunty of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Goel first entered politics in 1993, when he contested elections as a BJP candidate and won. His tenure as Speaker has been marked by numerous legislative activities, including 1,095 questions asked during the Question Hour, 19 committee reports tabled, and 26 Bills passed. Additionally, 702 special mentions, 39 short-term discussions, and 13 motions were part of the Assembly’s proceedings during his time in office.
The Seventh Delhi Legislative Assembly concluded its five-year term on Wednesday, holding its final sitting before the upcoming elections in February 2025. In his farewell speech, Speaker Goel called the occasion “emotional and historic,” reflecting on the assembly’s significant achievements during his tenure.”
I have always tried to carry out my duties impartially, ensuring that both the ruling party and the opposition received equal attention,” Goel said. Despite being a Union Territory Assembly with limited powers, he noted, “remarkable work has been accomplished.”
