Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal – Life, Career, and Political Journey

Explore the life of Arvind Kejriwal (born August 16, 1968), Indian activist-bureaucrat turned politician, founder of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and former Chief Minister of Delhi. Delve into his activism, governance, controversies, and influence.

Introduction

Arvind Kejriwal is one of India’s most prominent and polarizing political figures in recent decades. Born in 1968, he began his public life as a bureaucrat in the India Revenue Service, then emerged as an anti-corruption activist, and later founded a political party (AAP) to translate activism into governance. Over multiple terms, he led the Delhi government as Chief Minister, introduced reforms in education, health, and public services, and clashed repeatedly with central authorities. His arrest in 2024 while in office marked a historic moment. Kejriwal’s trajectory offers a vivid case study in how activism, institutional resistance, power, and controversy intersect in modern Indian democracy.

Early Life and Education

Arvind Kejriwal was born on 16 August 1968 in Siwani, in the Bhiwani district of Haryana, India.

His schooling was spread across towns in northern India—Hisar, Sonipat, Ghaziabad—reflecting the family’s mobility. All India Rank 563 in the IIT-JEE entrance exam, gaining admission to IIT Kharagpur, where he studied mechanical engineering.

After graduation, he briefly worked at Tata Steel in Jamshedpur before preparing for the civil services examination. Indian Revenue Service (IRS), serving in the Income Tax Department.

His early exposure to public service, bureaucratic machinery, and citizen grievances laid a foundation for his later activism.

Activism & the Transition to Politics

Parivartan & RTI Movements

While serving in the IRS, Kejriwal started focusing on corruption and governance issues. In 1999–2000, he helped found Parivartan, a grassroots movement in Delhi (especially Sundar Nagri) that used the Right to Information (RTI) to expose corruption in public services, PDS (public distribution system), electricity, and municipal services.

Parivartan’s work included filing public interest litigations (PILs), organizing grievance redress mechanisms, pushing transparency, and mobilizing local citizens. It drew attention to the power of citizen-led accountability.

In 2006, he resigned from the IRS to focus full-time on activism and founded Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF). Ramon Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership, particularly in promoting RTI and transparency.

India Against Corruption & Jan Lokpal

In 2011, Kejriwal became a prominent figure in the national anti-corruption movement. He aligned with Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption (IAC) campaign, which pushed for a strong Lokpal Bill (ombudsman oversight) at the central level.

Differences emerged between the activist approach and political strategy. To “institutionalize” change, Kejriwal and others decided that forming a political party was necessary. This led to the foundation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in November 2012, with Kejriwal as its national convenor.

Political Career & Governance

First Term as Chief Minister (2013–2014)

In the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, AAP made a strong showing, winning 28 out of 70 seats. Kejriwal himself contested from New Delhi and defeated Sheila Dikshit.

He headed a minority government supported externally, and attempted to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly.

Dominance in Delhi: Second and Third Terms

In 2015, AAP achieved a dramatic victory—winning 67 of 70 seats in Delhi. Kejriwal was sworn in again (14 February 2015) and began implementing reforms in education, healthcare (Mohalla Clinics), power and water subsidies, and welfare.

During his second term, he often clashed with the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (appointed by the central government) over authority in Delhi’s governance—control over administration, appointments, and powers. This friction became framed as “battle between the elected vs selected.”

In the 2020 Delhi elections, AAP won again (62 seats), and Kejriwal was sworn in for a third time on 16 February 2020.

Arrest & Resignation (2024)

In March 2024, Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi’s excise (liquor) policy. first-ever sitting Chief Minister in India to be arrested.

The AAP government maintained that the charges were politically motivated, particularly since they came ahead of general elections.

Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in May 2024, later surrendered to custody again, and ultimately resigned as CM in September 2024 to contest for a fresh mandate.

In the 2025 Delhi Assembly election, AAP suffered a major defeat, and Kejriwal himself lost his New Delhi seat to Parvesh Verma by a margin of over 4,000 votes.

Political Philosophy & Policy Priorities

Kejriwal’s public philosophy rides the line between populist governance and technocratic reform. Some signature priorities:

• Anti-corruption & transparency: His activism roots remain visible in his push for RTI, citizen grievance mechanisms, and accountability.

• Decentralization & citizen participation: In his book Swaraj, he advocates devolving more power to local bodies (Panchayats) and involving citizens in budgeting and governance.

• Welfare & basic services: His Delhi governments emphasized education improvement, healthcare access (Mohalla Clinics), subsidized water and electricity, and support for lower-income residents.

• Populism and electoral messaging: Kejriwal has used strong rhetorical framing—“common man,” “corrupt elite,” “system vs citizen”—to mobilize support.

• Confrontation with central power: His political identity also involves pushing back against central government overreach, especially in Delhi’s governance structure.

Controversies & Criticism

Kejriwal’s journey has not been without significant controversy and critique:

1. Conflicts with Lieutenant Governor / Delhi administration
   Over multiple terms, his government’s decisions were stalled or overturned by the LG’s office, judiciary, or central institutions citing jurisdictional ambiguity. Critics argue this created administrative gridlock.

2. Renovation expenses of official residence
   In 2023, allegations emerged that Kejriwal’s government misappropriated funds in renovating his official bungalow. The BJP demanded investigations.

3. Management during COVID-19
   His administration was criticized for prioritizing publicity over investment in oxygen infrastructure during the 2021 oxygen crisis. Questions were raised about spending on advertisements and delayed infrastructure.

4. Defamation and lawsuits
   He has filed and faced multiple defamation suits over allegations made against politicians and institutions. On some occasions, he had to apologize or retract statements.

5. Arrest and legal charges
   The excise policy case and alleged money laundering charges remain hotly contested. His arrest as a sitting CM is unprecedented and remains politically charged.

6. Electoral setbacks
   The 2025 defeat in Delhi and his own loss in New Delhi point to limits in his political appeal and possibly backlash to governance or strategy.

Personality, Style & Public Perception

Arvind Kejriwal is often seen as earnest, combative, grassroots-oriented, and media-savvy. Some traits:

• He projects the image of a reluctant leader, someone pushed from activism into power roles.

• His speaking style is direct, often making appeals in plain language to “aam aadmi” (common man).

• He can be polarizing: his supporters see him as a reformer unafraid of entrenched power; critics view him as populist, inconsistent, or confrontational for conflict’s sake.

• His trajectory also shows a blend of idealism and pragmatism: while his roots are in activism, he has had to navigate institutional politics, coalitions, and governance constraints.

Some Notable Statements

Here are a few reminders of Kejriwal’s rhetorical style (paraphrased from his public speeches and writings):

• On governance: “Power corrupts—but it also reveals who is truly committed.”

• On public services: “Education, health, water—these are the rights of people, not privileges.”

• On corruption: “When officials fear transparency more than people fear injustice, the system is broken.”

• On political resistance: “We must resist when power turns on people.”

Lessons from Kejriwal’s Journey

• Activism can lead to political power—but the transition is challenging. Kejriwal’s path shows that turning protest into governing authority demands new skills, compromises, and resilience.

• Institutional frameworks matter. His repeated clashes with bureaucratic structures, central authorities, and constitutional ambiguities in Delhi reveal how formal rules can undercut reform ambitions.

• Communication is central. His ability to articulate and frame issues in relatable terms aided his rise, but rhetorical momentum must be matched by delivery.

• Controversy is a constant companion. In high-stakes politics, bold moves invite pushback—legally, institutionally, electorally.

• Sustainability over theatrics. Long-term change may require steadier governance, coalition building, and adapting strategies beyond mobilization.

Conclusion

Arvind Kejriwal’s story is complex: part activist, part bureaucrat, part politician, and always a contender for reshaping how citizens engage with power. From leveraging RTI and grassroots pressure to his multiple stints as Delhi’s Chief Minister, his life reflects both possibilities and limitations of reform in India’s democratic framework.

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