Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician, activist, and former bureaucrat, best known as the Chief Minister of Delhi and the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). His rise from being a social activist to leading a political movement against corruption has made him one of the most influential political figures in India.
This article explores the history, early life, activism, political career, achievements, and challenges faced by Arvind Kejriwal.
🔹 Early Life and Education
- Born: August 16, 1968
- Birthplace: Siwani, Haryana, India
- Parents: Gobind Ram Kejriwal (father), Gita Devi (mother)
- Education:
- Studied at Campus School, Hisar and Holy Child School, Sonipat
- Graduated in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur (1989)
After completing his engineering degree, Kejriwal joined Tata Steel in Jamshedpur but soon left the job to prepare for civil services.
🔹 Career as an IRS Officer (1995-2006)
- Cleared the Civil Services Examination and joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995 as an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax.
- During his tenure, he was known for exposing corruption in the tax department.
- In 2000, he took a sabbatical to work on public welfare projects.
- Resigned from IRS in 2006 to focus on social activism.
🔹 Social Activism and the Right to Information (RTI) Movement
- Founded Parivartan, an NGO that helped people fight corruption in government offices.
- Played a key role in the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, which empowered citizens to seek transparency from the government.
- In 2006, he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership for his efforts in promoting transparency.
🔹 India Against Corruption (IAC) and Anti-Corruption Movement (2011-2012)
- In 2011, he joined hands with Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, and other activists in the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement to demand the Jan Lokpal Bill.
- The movement gained national attention but failed to convince the government to pass a strong Lokpal Bill.
- Differences emerged between Anna Hazare (who wanted to remain apolitical) and Kejriwal, who believed political change was necessary to fight corruption.
🔹 Formation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) (2012)
- On November 26, 2012, Arvind Kejriwal launched the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to bring political change.
- AAP’s symbol: Broom (Jhadu), representing a clean government.
- Focused on anti-corruption, transparency, and public welfare policies.
🔹 Political Career and Delhi Elections
📌 Delhi Assembly Elections 2013
- AAP contested its first election in December 2013 and won 28 out of 70 seats.
- Kejriwal defeated Sheila Dikshit (Congress CM for 15 years) from the New Delhi constituency.
- Formed the government with Congress’ outside support but resigned after 49 days over the failure to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill.
📌 Delhi Assembly Elections 2015
- In February 2015, AAP made a historic comeback, winning 67 out of 70 seats.
- Kejriwal became the Chief Minister of Delhi for the second time.
📌 Delhi Assembly Elections 2020
- AAP won another landslide victory with 62 out of 70 seats.
- Kejriwal continued as Delhi’s CM for the third consecutive term.
🔹 Key Achievements as Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal’s tenure as Delhi CM focused on education, healthcare, electricity, and water supply.
1️⃣ Education Reforms
✔ Revamped Delhi government schools, making them among the best in India.
✔ Launched “Happiness Curriculum” and “Deshbhakti Curriculum” for students.
✔ Improved infrastructure and teacher training.
2️⃣ Healthcare Initiatives
✔ Established Mohalla Clinics for free primary healthcare.
✔ Improved government hospitals and provided free medicines & tests.
3️⃣ Free Electricity & Water Supply
✔ Free 200 units of electricity per month for Delhi residents.
✔ Free water up to 20,000 liters per household.
4️⃣ Women’s Safety & Transport
✔ Free bus rides for women in Delhi public transport.
✔ Installed CCTV cameras & streetlights for women’s safety.
5️⃣ Pollution Control (Odd-Even Scheme)
✔ Implemented the Odd-Even traffic rule to reduce pollution in Delhi.
✔ Launched the “Green Delhi” initiative to plant more trees and reduce air pollution.
🔹 Challenges and Controversies
Despite his achievements, Arvind Kejriwal has faced several challenges:
1️⃣ Conflicts with the Central Government
- Frequent clashes with Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) over administrative powers.
- The Delhi Services Bill (2023) reduced AAP’s control over bureaucrats.
2️⃣ Allegations of Populism
- Critics accuse AAP of “freebies politics”, such as free electricity and water, to gain votes.
3️⃣ Corruption Allegations & Legal Issues
- Several AAP leaders have faced corruption charges, including the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam.
- Kejriwal has denied all allegations, calling them politically motivated.
4️⃣ Expansion Beyond Delhi
- AAP expanded to Punjab, Gujarat, and other states but faced mixed results.
- In 2022, AAP won the Punjab elections, making Bhagwant Mann the CM.
🔹 Awards and Recognitions
🏆 Ramon Magsaysay Award (2006) – For his work in RTI activism.
🏆 CNN-IBN Indian of the Year (2013) – For political impact.
🏆 Policy Change Agent of the Year (2016) – For governance reforms in Delhi.
🔹 Future of Arvind Kejriwal & AAP
- AAP aims to become a national alternative to BJP & Congress.
- Kejriwal is focusing on expanding AAP in multiple states.
- He continues to advocate for better governance, education, and healthcare.
🔹 Conclusion
Arvind Kejriwal’s journey from an IRS officer to a political leader is a story of determination, struggle, and impact. Whether one supports him or not, his contributions to Delhi’s governance, transparency, and political reforms cannot be ignored.
📌 What do you think about Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🚀