Arvind Kejriwal: From The Street, And Back To The Street
Arvind Kejriwal, a name that has become synonymous with a new wave of Indian politics in the last decade, has lost an important election today. Kejriwal, who began his journey as a social activist before transitioning into a full-fledged politician, lost to Parvesh Verma of BJP in a closely contested triangular election in the New Delhi constituency which he had won in 2013, 2015 and 2020. The maverick politician, who was once pitted against the political heavyweights as the hope with his ‘political startup’ AAP, is currently looking at political oblivion in national capital as he has lost an important election in his career.
Born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, Haryana, Kejriwal excelled academically and pursued a degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. He later joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995 as a Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, where he witnessed firsthand the bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption plaguing the system. His disillusionment with the status quo pushed him toward activism, leading to a series of events that would redefine his career and impact Indian politics significantly.
Kejriwal’s activism days were marked by his relentless fight against corruption and the demand for transparency in governance. His most significant contribution came in the form of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which he championed alongside like-minded activists. He founded Parivartan, an NGO aimed at exposing corruption and empowering citizens to hold the government accountable. His efforts earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2006, further solidifying his position as a leading voice against corruption. However, his real breakthrough came when he joined forces with veteran activist Anna Hazare during the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement in 2011. The campaign, which demanded the implementation of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill to tackle corruption, captured the nation’s imagination and put the government on the defensive. Kejriwal became one of the most visible faces of the movement, engaging with the media, strategizing protests, and mobilizing public support. However, ideological differences between Kejriwal and Hazare emerged, as the latter believed in maintaining the movement’s non-political nature, whereas Kejriwal felt that systemic change could only be achieved by entering politics. This rift ultimately led Kejriwal to part ways with Hazare and launch his own political party.
In 2012, Kejriwal founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), positioning it as a party that would champion the common man’s cause and bring a new brand of clean politics. His entry into electoral politics was met with both skepticism and enthusiasm. Many saw him as a disruptor challenging the traditional political establishment, while others viewed his approach as naive. In the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP made an impressive debut, securing 28 out of 70 seats, and Kejriwal himself defeated three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in her own constituency. Despite falling short of a majority, AAP formed a government with external support from the Congress Party. However, Kejriwal’s first stint as Chief Minister lasted only 49 days, as he resigned in early 2014, citing his inability to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill due to a lack of support from other parties. This move drew criticism, with opponents calling him an escapist, while his supporters viewed it as a principled stand against political compromise.
His resignation and subsequent national ambition in the 2014 General Elections saw AAP contesting across the country, but the results were dismal. The party managed to secure only four seats in Punjab, and Kejriwal himself lost against Narendra Modi in Varanasi. This setback forced Kejriwal to recalibrate his strategy, and he focused solely on Delhi politics. In 2015, AAP staged a remarkable comeback, winning 67 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly, a victory that stunned the political establishment. Kejriwal took charge as Chief Minister once again, this time determined to deliver on his governance promises. Under his leadership, AAP focused on education, healthcare, and public welfare initiatives. Government schools saw significant reforms, mohalla clinics were introduced to improve healthcare accessibility, and water and electricity subsidies were implemented, earning Kejriwal a reputation as a leader who prioritizes governance over rhetoric.
However, Kejriwal’s tenure has not been without controversies, particularly regarding corruption allegations and governance clashes with the central government. The first major controversy erupted when his former colleague and AAP co-founder Prashant Bhushan accused the party of deviating from its founding principles. Bhushan, along with Yogendra Yadav, was expelled from AAP in 2015, amid accusations of internal autocracy and lack of transparency. This internal strife led to questions about Kejriwal’s leadership style, with critics accusing him of intolerance towards dissent within the party. Further, his confrontations with Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) became a recurring theme, as AAP accused the central government of obstructing its policies by using the LG’s office as a tool to curtail its powers. The Delhi High Court ruling in 2016, which stated that the LG held administrative supremacy over the elected government, further fueled tensions and created a governance deadlock.
The corruption allegations against Kejriwal’s administration gained momentum when multiple AAP ministers were accused of misconduct. In 2017, Delhi’s then-minister Kapil Mishra alleged that he had witnessed Kejriwal accepting a bribe of ₹2 crore from another minister, Satyendar Jain. Although Kejriwal dismissed the claims as politically motivated, the accusations dented his anti-corruption image. The Delhi liquor policy scandal in 2022 was another major setback, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing alleged irregularities in AAP’s excise policy. Senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain were arrested, leading to widespread criticism from opposition parties and raising questions about Kejriwal’s commitment to clean governance. And later, Kejriwal was imprisoned for five months.
Kejriwal has remained a formidable force in Indian politics with his ability to connect with the masses, coupled with his strategic use of social media and direct outreach.
The party’s success in the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022, where it secured a landslide victory, marked a significant milestone in Kejriwal’s national ambitions. Additionally, AAP made inroads in Goa, winning two seats in the 2022 Assembly elections, signaling its intent to grow beyond its traditional strongholds. He has since been positioning himself as an alternative to both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, advocating for his governance model as a blueprint for other states. However, his confrontations with the central government and corruption allegations cast a shadow over his political journey.
Kejriwal’s evolution from an activist to a politician has been marked by both highs and lows. His rise through the anti-corruption movement gave him credibility, and his governance in Delhi earned him a loyal voter base, which now acted against him and his party that ultimately led to “The Muffler Man” losing a politically important state. His tenure, which was characterised by controversies, internal conflicts, and legal battles and a recent budget that brought the middle class back to BJP fold. Will Kejriwal be able to sail though the current storm that has affected his and his party’s future prospects? The time will tell.
