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Who is Arvind Kejriwal
Who is Arvind Kejriwal?
Arvind Kejriwal is a former bureaucrat turned politician and the current Chief Minister (CM) of Delhi. Known for his grassroots activism, the Right to Information (RTI) movement, and governance reforms, Kejriwal is the founder and national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a political party established in 2012 focusing on anti-corruption and government transparency. He came into the limelight after receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2006.
Education
Arvind Kejriwal was born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, Haryana. He completed his schooling from Campus School in Hisar and graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in 1989. After working briefly in the private sector, Kejriwal joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995. He later resigned from his IRS position in 2006 to dedicate himself fully to social activism and public service.
Political journey
Kejriwal's political journey began with his involvement in the India Against Corruption movement, led by activist Anna Hazare in 2011. The movement sought the enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill, an anti-corruption legislation. Inspired by the movement's potential and the public's desire for clean governance, Kejriwal founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012.
In 2013, AAP contested the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections and won 28 out of 70 seats. Kejriwal became the Chief Minister of Delhi but resigned after 49 days, citing the inability to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill due to lack of support. However, in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP achieved a landslide victory, winning 67 of 70 seats, and Kejriwal was re-elected as Chief Minister. He was re-elected again in 2020 after another decisive win. He represents the New Delhi constituency in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
In 2014, Kejriwal unsuccessfully contested against the BJP’s then prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, from Varanasi in UP. Kejriwal and his government have been at constant loggerheads with the Narendra Modi government and the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor, over issues revolving around public appointments, the responsibility of the UT and the Centre, among others.
Kejriwal is seen as an important leader for galvanising Opposition forces against the BJP and its allies.
CM of Delhi
During his tenure as Chief Minister, Kejriwal has focused on key areas such as education, healthcare, water, electricity, and infrastructure. His government introduced the Mohalla Clinics initiative, providing accessible healthcare to residents across Delhi. The education sector saw significant reforms, including the improvement of public school infrastructure and the introduction of happiness and entrepreneurship curriculums.
Kejriwal's administration also worked on providing free water up to 20,000 liters per month per household and subsidised electricity rates, making these utilities more affordable for the citizens. His efforts in improving public transportation and environmental measures, such as the Odd-Even scheme to reduce air pollution, have been notable.
Excise duty case and arrest
Kejriwal has been embroiled in an excise duty case that led to his arrest. The case revolves around alleged irregularities and corruption in formulating and implementing Delhi's excise policy. Authorities claim that there were procedural lapses and financial misappropriations that benefited private entities at the cost of the state exchequer.
Kejriwal and his party have vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the charges as politically motivated. His arrest has sparked a debate on the political landscape, with supporters rallying behind him, accusing the central government of misusing its powers to target political opponents. The case is under investigation.