The journey of Arvind Kejriwal, who was born in Hisar, Haryana, India, on August 16, 1968, from a civil servant to a social activist and finally to the Chief Minister of Delhi, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to openness, responsibility, and the common good.
Early Life and Career
Arvind Kejriwal graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in 1989 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1993 as a Joint Commissioner in the Income Tax Department. However, his love for social problems prompted him to start the NGO Parivartan, focusing on addressing residents’ grievances relating to the Public Distribution System (PDS), public works, social welfare schemes, income tax, and electricity. He left the IRS in 2006 to focus entirely on activism, most notably being a key figure in the Right to Information (RTI) campaign, which enabled people to demand openness in government.
Entry into Politics and Formation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Arvind Kejriwal founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in November 2012 after realising that structural transformation would require political action. The broom, the party’s emblem, represented its dedication to ridding the political system of inefficiency and corruption. Many people found resonance in the AAP’s ideology, and as a result, they performed admirably in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, winning 28 of 70 seats. A major political shift occurred in the capital when Kejriwal himself defeated incumbent Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the New Delhi constituency by a wide margin.
Tenure as Chief Minister
December 28, 2013, marked the start of Kejriwal’s first term as chief minister. His government implemented policies like electricity and water subsidies and an anti-corruption hotline. His term was brief, though, as he quit after 49 days because of difficulties enacting the Jan Lokpal Bill, which established an impartial authority to look into cases of corruption.
In 2015, Arvind Kejriwal was reinstated as Chief Minister after the AAP won 67 out of 70 seats in a landslide victory. His administration prioritised important problems including energy, water supply, healthcare, and education. The Mohalla Clinics, one of Kejriwal’s main projects, were created to give Delhi’s citizens easily accessible and reasonably priced healthcare. The clinics greatly increased the underprivileged’s access to healthcare by providing free medical consultations, necessary medications, and diagnostic testing. The quality of education in Delhi’s government schools has improved as a result of the AAP government’s significant investments in infrastructure and teacher training. Teachers and legislators praised these efforts for raising enrolment rates and improving student performance.
Kejriwal’s third term commenced in February 2020 after AAP won 62 out of 70 seats. His administration remained focused on healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Kejriwal’s government introduced various measures to curb the virus’s spread and assist affected citizens. It established testing centers, quarantine facilities, and oxygen supply chains, strengthening Delhi’s healthcare system to handle the crisis efficiently. The government’s proactive and transparent response received widespread recognition.
Challenges and Controversies
Arvind Kejriwal was not without controversy during his time, despite his reputation as an anti-corruption activist. He was detained in March 2024 on suspicion of corruption in connection with a now-cancelled Delhi liquor legislation that gave private vendors authority over the booze market. Many were taken aback by this arrest, considering Kejriwal’s reputation as an anti-corruption activist. Kejriwal criticised the probe in spite of the accusations, claiming that the charges were unlawful and general. Less than a month before India’s general elections, in which his AAP was a member of the 27-party INDIA alliance that sought to unseat the ruling BJP, he was arrested.
In the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money-laundering case, Kejriwal was granted temporary bail by the Supreme Court on July 12, 2024. After spending over six months in jail without a trial, he was released on September 13, 2024, after obtaining bail in the ED’s case. Kejriwal then resigned on September 15, 2024, and formally left his position as Chief Minister of Delhi on September 17, 2024.
Recent Developments
In the Delhi Assembly elections held on February 8, 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won, ending AAP’s 12-year rule. Parvesh Verma of the BJP defeated Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency. This marked a significant political shift in Delhi, with BJP securing 48 out of 70 seats, while AAP managed to win 22 seats. The BJP’s victory was seen as a significant boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially after the party’s mixed performance in previous national and state elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was viewed as greatly aided by the BJP’s triumph, particularly in light of the party’s inconsistent results in the last national and state elections.
Legacy and Impact
Arvind Kejriwal’s dedication to meeting the needs of the average person has been a defining characteristic of his political career. His efforts in healthcare and education have established standards for Delhi’s governance.
