He is one of the most charismatic figures in Indian politics. He is known for his openness, reform, and public activity. The political culture dominated by large parties has changed significantly due to this anti-corruption activist’s ascent to the position of elected chief minister of Delhi.
Early Life and Education
Arvind Kejriwal was born in Siwani, Haryana on 16th of August, 1968. Geeta Devi, mother was a home maker, whereas father, Gobind Ram Kejriwal was electrical engineer. Kejriwal is a products of the education department of Hisar, campus School of Hisar in the State of Haryana. Graduating in the Year 1989 from Mechanical Department, Arvind emerged successful in pursuing an IIT, Kharagpur education qualification.
Family Context: Kejriwal hails from a middle-class background, brought up in a conservative, morally straight household.
Education: I had secured admission to the highly-reputed IIT Kharagpur through meritous results.
Early Career: Before joining the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995, Arvind Kejriwal was working with Tata Steel.
Switch to Activism
This civil servant’s experience ranges from Kejriwal to activism as he has exemplified disappointment with the institutional corruption, and he says he feels to have more.
He realized the depth of how corrupt the IRS was in his officer time in that service; hence, took a leave and resigned from full-time service in 2006 to dedicate solely to activism full-time.
Important Activism Projects:
Parivartan is the nongovernmental body by which people can fight against corruption and demand good governance. It was founded in the year 2000.
The Right to Information Movement has given India the RTI Act, passed in the year 2005 and has been a golden weapon for transparency.
He started a critical movement along with Anna Hazare for the India Against Corruption (IAC) campaign, which gained significant national support and resulted in anti-corruption protests across the country.
Political career
Activism naturally morphed into the most crucial stage of Arvind Kejriwal’s political career. In 2012, he founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he had initially called Swaraj, with a view to ensuring greater accountability and transparency in Indian politics.
Such notable political events started emerging as early as 2012 when the Aam Aadmi Party was created and there was a strong voice of the common man.
First tenure for Chief Minister: In December 2013, Arvind Kejriwal was elected the chief minister of Delhi, but his government was short-lived, which lasted only for 49 days as he did not have the majority in the parliament.
Return to Power as Chief Minister of Delhi: In February 2015, the AAP won 67 out of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly. In his second term, he was infamous for making policies that impacted reforms and the government drastically.
In the third term, while Kejriwal replicated AAP’s performance from February 2020, he won 62 seats; this time around, he remained more focused on healthcare, education, and infrastructures.
Some notable achievements:
Education Reforms: Delhi public school system redesign based on pupil performance, teachers’ training and infrastructure.
Health Initiatives: Established Mohalla Clinics- primary health service to the Delhiites free of cost.
Reforms related to Electricity and Water: In order to increase access to these facilities for a common man, these were subsidized.
The most common words that describe the leadership style of Arvind Kejriwal are people-centric and hands-on. He is known for being approachable and eager to interact with the public directly. His style of government places strong emphasis on openness, effectiveness, and citizen involvement.
Public Perception:
Supporters: He is said to be the leader who has considerably enhanced one’s life and the Messiah of the common man.
Critics: It can be argued that his tactics are sometimes too combative in nature, and his national appeal has been diluted by Delhi focus in politics.
Difficulties and Debates
Kejriwal has had his share of scandals and controversies just like any public figure. The journey has been far from easy, with instances of political competition to allegations of mismanagement.
Major Issues:
- Political Rivalries: Several political stalemates have arisen from the frequent friction with the INC and BJP.
- Claims of Poor Management: By critics, he has been held responsible for various instances of ineptitude and mismanagement; his supporters however, argue that such claims have a political bias.
- Legal Cases: Arvind Kejriwal has been in many legal disputes, such as corruption and defamation charges, of which he is yet to be convicted.
Future Directions
- The future vision of Arvind Kejriwal is set on the lines of good governance, transparency, and public welfare.
- He looks at national politics and expanding AAP influence outside Delhi.
Future Goals:
- National Reach: Continuing winning elections in other states, which will be like the model implemented in Delhi.
- Policy Innovations: Continuing efforts on infrastructure, health, and education with a focus on sustainable development.
- Connecting to Grass Roots: Improving party’s relation to an average citizen through greater openness and participation of people.
Conclusion
One good example of the level of commitment to public service by Arvind Kejriwal is his transition from being an IIT graduate to a civil servant, activist, and eventually to his current role as political leader. He differs in the entire Indian politics landscape for his out-of-the-box attitude to governance, transparency, and being an advocate for the common man. Despite the faults and controversies, his impact on politics cannot be ignored. As the path for Kejriwal and the AAP unfolds, that will be some interesting material about grassroots activism, leadership, and governance.
Arvind Kejriwal is a breath of fresh air in a country where politics has become synonymous with the names of some certain dynasties and corruption. His story is a pretty strong illustration of how one man’s idea can spark a movement and change a city, regardless of your opinion of his tactics. The issue still stands as the Aam Aadmi Party looks to the future: Is it possible to build up Kejriwal’s governing model nationally? Though only time will tell, Arvind Kejriwal has already made a lasting impression on Indian politics.
