The Arvind Kejriwal Story: Do Or Die Battle For Delhi's Son (image:x.com/ArvindKejriwal)
Arvind Kejriwal, then Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on March 21 last year, alleging his involvement in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy ‘scam” case. In his first response after the arrest, AAP chief said: “My life is dedicated to the service of the nation whether I am inside or outside (jail).” He became the first sitting chief minister to be arrested on a corruption charge.
After serving more than five months in jail, the Supreme Court granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal. Days after getting bail, in a surprise to many, Kejriwal has resigned his Chief Minister post and said that he will take up the post if people re-elect his party in the upcoming assembly elections. Denying the corruption allegations against him, he has accused the BJP of using central agencies to wrongly target opposition leaders.
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When Kejriwal is being asked whether Delhi excise policy scam has tarnished the image of party and its leaders, including himself, “This has not damaged our image; in fact, it has only generated more sympathy and support for the AAP,” Kejriwal told Frontline.
As anti-corruption crusader, Kejriwal has emerged in the India’s political scene in 2011. Ironically, at present, his credibility and public service is being tested on a corruption case.
Outsider’s Way Into Politics
Hailing from a middle class family in Haryana’s Hisar district, Kejriwal studied mechanical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Following his education, he went on to work for Tata Steel in Jamshedpur. The call for working in public service front, led him to quit corporate profession, and prepare for the Civil Services Examination. Through his rank in the Indian Revenue Services, he joined Income Tax department in Delhi. However, perturbed by the corruption practices around him, Kejriwal dropped from the government service and started his journey as an activist.
Kejriwal got attention for his work with Parivartan, an organisation that familiarised the use of Right to Information (RTI) law which enables people to access information held by the government. In 2006, he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his involvement in the India’s right-to-information movement, “empowering New Delhi’s poorest citizens to fight corruption by holding the government answerable to the people.”
In 2011, Kejriwal supported Anna Hazare, a Pune-based Gandhian’s campaign India Against Corruption (IAC) movement which mainly intended to formulate an all-powerful Lokpal, an anti-corruption body to inquire into allegations of corruption against any bureaucrats or any elected representative. The movement worked, generated huge storm in India, which inspired Kejriwal to found Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or Common Man’s Party.
Kejriwal then became the chief minister of Delhi for the first time in 2013. However, his period was short-lived because he was resigned shortly when his party failed to pass Lokpal Bill in the assembly. His resignation was viewed a strong strategic move which presented him as a politician driven by ethics and moral principles willing to give up the epitome of power for his crusade against corruption. The move indeed proven to be effective, leading to expanding party’s popularity and influence. As a result, AAP won 2015 Delhi assembly elections winning 67 of 70 seats ousting Congress and in 2020, party reaffirmed its position in the national capital by winning 62 of 70 seats defeating BJP.
Stakes Are Personal This Time
With focus on pro-poor approach, Kejriwal’s ruling government is lauded for advancing Delhi’s schools, healthcare, free electricity and free bus rides for women. However, the party’s anti-corruption rhetoric has received huge blow with the controversial liquor policy case. Although party and leaders rejected corruption charges as BJP government’s misuse of investigation agencies, the current assembly election results will mandate whether public trust is with them. Also, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s recent approval to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in the Delhi excise policy case has added new trouble to him and the party.
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The party believes that welfare schemes will return as votes and has announced many more as electoral promises. Kejriwal’s guarantees focusing Hindu communities such as Rs. 18,000 per month to temple priests, gurudwara granthis is critically observed as an ‘appeasement’ tactic to woo Hindu community votes by assessing the influence of rival BJP. His recent resignation from chief ministerial position, and vacating chief minister’s residence was viewed as a calculated attempt to distance himself from the corruption allegations, and convey the message he is a honest and principled politician. In a different way, a déjà vu to his resignation after he first became chief minister.
As Kejriwal strengthens his rooted approach through campaigns – the face of ‘common man’ in election, and propose himself as a ‘victim’ of unjust political practices, he is wielding all the strategies to sustain Delhi’s power. In short, touted Delhi’s son, citing his unjust jail term, advancing public appeal through electoral promises, is facing the toughest elections in his political career .
