The Rise of Arvind Kejriwal: From Activist to Politician




Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician and former civil servant who is currently serving as the Chief Minister of Delhi. He is the founder and national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a political party that was established in 2012 with the aim of fighting corruption and promoting transparency in the Indian political system.


Early Life and Career


Arvind Kejriwal was born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, a small town in Haryana, India. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, in 1989 with a degree in mechanical engineering. After working for a few years in the corporate sector, he joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995.


As an IRS officer, Kejriwal was known for his integrity and his efforts to expose corruption in government departments. He played a key role in the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in India, which allows citizens to access information held by public authorities. In 2006, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership, which is often referred to as the "Asian Nobel Prize".


Political Career


Kejriwal's entry into politics was inspired by his experiences as an anti-corruption activist. In 2011, he joined the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, which was led by social activist Anna Hazare. The movement was aimed at pressuring the government to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill, which proposed the creation of an independent ombudsman to investigate corruption in government.


When the government refused to pass the bill, Kejriwal and his colleagues decided to launch a political party that would fight corruption from within the system. Thus, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was born in 2012. The party's name means "Common Man's Party" in Hindi.


In its first election in 2013, the AAP stunned the political establishment by winning 28 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Kejriwal became the Chief Minister of Delhi, but his government lasted only 49 days as he resigned over the issue of the Jan Lokpal Bill.


In the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, the AAP won a landslide victory, winning 67 out of 70 seats. Kejriwal was once again sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi. His government has since implemented several key reforms, including providing free water and electricity to households, improving healthcare and education, and introducing a comprehensive public transport system.


Kejriwal's leadership style has been praised for its simplicity and accessibility. He is known for his frequent interactions with the public, both online and offline. He has also been a vocal critic of the Indian government's policies on several issues, including the farmers' protests, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Conclusion


Arvind Kejriwal is a unique politician in India, who rose to fame as an anti-corruption activist and has successfully translated his activism into mainstream politics. He has shown that it is possible to be a clean politician in India and that honest governance can deliver results for the people. His rise to power has inspired a new generation of political leaders in India who are committed to fighting corruption and promoting transparency in the political system.

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