Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal
Vice President's Secretariat · GODL-India · source
Name	Arvind Kejriwal
Birth date	1968-08-16
Birth place	Siwan, Bihar
Occupation	Politician, activist, former civil servant
Known for	Founding Aam Aadmi Party, anti-corruption movement

Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician and activist who served multiple terms as Chief Minister of the Delhi government and founded the Aam Aadmi Party. A former Indian Revenue Service officer and Indian Income Tax Department employee, he rose to national prominence through anti-corruption campaigns and mass mobilizations that intersected with figures and institutions across Indian public life.

Early life and education

Born in Siwan district, Bihar, Kejriwal attended Hindi medium schools before gaining admission to the IIT Kharagpur, where he studied mechanical engineering and became part of a cohort that included alumni active in Indian civil services, corporate sector and political movements. After IIT, he joined the Indian Revenue Service through the Union Public Service Commission and was posted in Delhi with responsibilities linked to the Income Tax Act and Tax Administration.

Activism and anti-corruption movement

Kejriwal left the Indian Revenue Service to work with NGOs such as Parivartan and allied with activists and campaigners including Anna Hazare, Kailash Satyarthi, Kiran Bedi, and Aruna Roy in national anti-corruption advocacy. He became a visible organizer in the campaign for the Jan Lokpal Bill and participated in high-profile protests at locations like Jantar Mantar and Ramlila Maidan, coordinating with civil society networks linked to RTI activists, Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act proponents, and online platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube that amplified the movement. The movement engaged with political parties including the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and regional organizations like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and prompted debate in institutions such as the Supreme Court of India and the Parliament of India.

Political career

Kejriwal founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), building coalitions and contesting elections across states including Delhi 2013, Delhi 2015, and national contests including the 2014 general election and 2019 general election. He faced electoral opponents and interlocutors from parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Bahujan Samaj Party. His party organized campaigns inspired by grassroots models from movements like Chipko movement, Right to Information movement, and international examples such as Occupy Wall Street and Spain's Indignados. AAP’s structure intersected with electoral bodies like the Election Commission of India and engaged with policy institutions including the Delhi Development Authority and Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi

As Chief Minister, Kejriwal led administrations that operated within constitutional frameworks involving the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the Delhi High Court, and the Supreme Court of India on matters of jurisdiction and powers. His governments negotiated authority with entities like the Central Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (India), and regulatory bodies including the Central Bureau of Investigation and Comptroller and Auditor General of India. During his terms the administration interacted with public utilities and agencies such as the Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Transport Corporation, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, and Bureau of Indian Standards in implementing citywide programs.

Policies and governance

Policy initiatives under his administration focused on sectors and schemes involving Delhi government institutions: expansion of Mohalla Clinics, reforms in public healthcare delivery, subsidies affecting public education institutions including Delhi government schools, and interventions in public transport with procurement decisions affecting the Delhi Transport Corporation and coordination with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Fiscal measures were scrutinized by bodies such as the Finance Commission of India and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, while social policies intersected with national programs like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and statutory frameworks including the Right to Education Act. Governance style drew comparisons with leaders like Sheila Dikshit, Nitish Kumar, Arun Nehru, and internationally with municipal reformers from Bogotá and Singapore.

Controversies and legal issues

Kejriwal’s career has involved legal disputes and controversies engaging institutions such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Election Commission of India, the Delhi High Court, and the Supreme Court of India. High-profile incidents included defamation suits involving figures like Sushma Swaraj, Harsh Mander, and media organizations including NDTV and The Hindu, and enforcement actions related to offices of the Income Tax Department and allegations investigated by agencies including the Enforcement Directorate. Political controversies involved confrontations with leaders such as Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley, and administrative disputes with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and members of the Union Cabinet.

Category:Indian politicians Category:Chief Ministers of Delhi