PoliticianIndia1968 โ Present
Arvind Kejriwal
โFrom IIT engineer to anti-corruption crusader to Delhi's CM: the man who dared to govern differently.โ
Arvind Kejriwal, an IIT Kharagpur graduate, left a corporate career to fight corruption alongside Anna Hazare. He founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and became Delhi's Chief Minister, pioneering experiments in governance like free electricity and mohalla clinics.
The deeper story
Early Life & Education
- Born in 1968 in Siwani, Haryana, into a middle-class family.
- Studied mechanical engineering at IIT Kharagpur, graduating in 1989.
- Joined Tata Steel as a management trainee, but soon felt a pull towards social work.
The Trigger: From Corporate to Activism
- In 1999, he quit his job to join the NGO 'Parivartan', using RTI to expose corruption in public distribution systems.
- Turning Point: The 2011 India Against Corruption movement with Anna Hazare. Kejriwal became the face of the anti-corruption campaign, demanding a Jan Lokpal Bill.
The Breakthrough: Birth of AAP
- After the movement fizzled, Kejriwal realized: "We need political power to change the system."
- In 2012, he launched the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
- Dramatic Win: In 2013 Delhi elections, AAP won 28 seats and formed a minority government with Congress support. Kejriwal became CM at 45.
The Setback: 49-Day Government
- His first term lasted only 49 days. He resigned over the failure to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill.
- Critics called it a stunt; supporters saw it as principled.
- Emotional Low: He faced ridicule and AAP lost the 2014 Lok Sabha elections badly.
The Comeback: Sweeping Delhi
- In 2015, AAP won 67 of 70 seats in Delhi, a historic mandate.
- Kejriwal returned as CM with a clear agenda: focus on education, health, and utilities.
- Innovation: Mohalla clinics (neighbourhood health centres) and model schools transformed public services.
The Politics: Battles with the Centre
- Constant friction with the BJP-led central government over control of Delhi's bureaucracy.
- Key Event: In 2018, Kejriwal held a 'fast unto death' at the LG's office demanding the transfer of IAS officers.
- He faced personal attacks, including an alleged assault in 2016 at his residence by AAP MLAs.
Legacy & Current Phase
- Achievements: Free electricity up to 200 units, free water, subsidised bus travel for women, and improved government schools.
- Criticism: Accused of populism and authoritarian tendencies within AAP.
- Emotional End Phase: In 2024, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a liquor policy case, calling it a political vendetta. His wife Sunita Kejriwal took over campaign duties.
> "I am not a politician by choice. I am a politician by compulsion." โ Arvind Kejriwal
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