Introduction
Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician, activist, and former bureaucrat, who has been serving as the 7th and current Chief Minister of Delhi since 2015, after his first term in the post from 2013 to 2014. He is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party since 2012. He has represented the New Delhi constituency in the Delhi Legislative Assembly since 2015 and from 2013 to 2014.
Early Life and Studies
Arvind Kejriwal was born on (16 August 1968) into an Agrawal family of Baniyas in Siwani, in the Bhiwani district of Haryana, India, as the first of three children of Gobind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi. His father was an electrical engineer who graduated from the Birla Institute of Technology in Mesra. Kejriwal spent the majority of his childhood in northern Indian places like Sonipat, Ghaziabad, and Hisar. He was educated at Campus School in Hisar and Holy Child School in Sonipat. In 1985, he took the IIT-JEE exam and scored an All India Rank (AIR) of 563. He graduated from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, majoring in mechanical engineering. In 1995, he also cleared the Civil Services Examination.
Career
Arvind Kejriwal joined the Indian Revenue Authority (IRS) in 1995 as an Associate Director of Income Tax after completing the Civil Services Exam. On the provision that he would not quit the service for at least two years after returning to work, he was given a two-year paid leave of absence in November 2000 to continue his further studies. He would be required to pay back the salary paid during the leave time if he didn’t follow that agreement. In November 2002, he returned to his job. Kejriwal claims that for over a year, he had no postings and continued to get money while performing no job. Kejriwal was authorized to take a further 18 months of unpaid leave.
The Indian government claimed that by not practicing for three years, Kejriwal violated the terms of his initial contract. Kejriwal stated that his 18 months of employment and 18 months of unpaid leave amounted to the required three years. He further said that this was an attempt to defame him since he joined the Indian anti-corruption drive. The conflict lasted several years before it was resolved in 2011 when he borrowed loans from friends to pay his way out of the service. Kejriwal paid the requisite payment of Rs. 927,787 but claimed that it was not an admission of guilt.
After entering politics, Kejriwal stated in 2013 that he had preferred public service over making millions as an Income Tax Commissioner. The IRS association brought up the news that he had never been elevated to the Commissioner of Income Tax position, which sparked a debate.
Formation of AAP
Kejriwal launched the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012, after becoming disappointed with corruption in Indian politics. The AAP emerged directly from the anti-corruption movement, to bring about structural reform and honesty in governance.
In 2013, AAP decided to run candidates for the Delhi Legislative Assembly, with Kejriwal taking on Sheila Dikshit, the current Chief Minister. In the election lead, Kejriwal climbed to the fifth-most discussed Indian political leader on social media.
Chief Minister of Delhi
Kejriwal’s political skill was tested in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections when he made a stunning debut by defeating a senior member of the ruling party. Although his first administration was brief, ending only 49 days owing to legislative chaos, his commitment to anti-corruption and governance reforms connected with the public. He returned with a banging victory in 2015, becoming Delhi’s chief minister and showing his unwavering popularity among the public. Throughout his term, he has launched several efforts to improve public services and reduce corruption.
National Convenor of AAP
As the national convenor of AAP since its inception, Kejriwal has driven the party with his vision of clean politics and governance. Under his leadership, the AAP has sought to expand its influence beyond Delhi, aiming to impact the national political landscape.
Awards and Achievements
He received the SKD Memorial Award from IIT Kanpur in 2005 in recognition of his work to increase government openness. His services to the Parivartan movement earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Innovative Leadership in 2006. He established the nonprofit Public Cause Research Association using the proceeds from his prize as a corpus fund.
Final Words
Arvind Kejriwal’s political journey, marked by his rise from activism to holding a significant political office, reflects his dedication to combating corruption and his impact on the political dynamics of Delhi and India.
