India’s fastest-growing political revolution, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), celebrated 12 years of its foundation today. With the occasion falling on the Constitution Day, the party’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, remarked that it is not a coincidence and emphasised, “God must have thought the Constitution is in danger and decided a party was needed to protect it,” highlighting the significance of AAP’s name and its symbol, the ‘jhadu’ (broom), as emblematic of its mission to serve and clean the system.
Reflecting on the party’s journey, he emphasised its role in reshaping Indian politics through the Delhi model which prioritises ease for common people, infrastructure development, and maintaining a budget surplus without deficits—calling it their greatest contribution. The AAP Chief said that it stands strong even after its key leaders were jailed and relentless political ‘obituaries’ predicting AAP’s downfall.
On AAP’s 13th Foundation Day, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated that the Aam Aadmi Party has completed 12 years today, and this marks the beginning of its 13th year. “It feels like the party was formed just yesterday. Coincidentally, today is also India’s Constitution Day. This cannot just be a coincidence,” he emphasised.
“On the same day that the country celebrates Constitution Day, a new political party was born after 60-70 years. Whatever God does, there’s always a reason behind it. He doesn’t act without purpose. And so, God chose Constitution Day to give birth to the AAP. He must have thought that the Constitution is in danger and a party is needed to protect it,” asserted the AAP Chief.
He highlighted three major things that stand out about AAP. “First, its name—Aam Aadmi Party, meaning it is a party for the common people. Unlike other parties, it truly belongs to the people. When the party was formed, not a single member came from a political dynasty. All of us were ordinary people, coming together to build this party. With God’s blessings, we’ve completed 12 years and achieved so much in this time.”
The AAP Supremo asserted, “Second, our party symbol—the ‘jhadu’ (broom). God must have thought long and hard about this. On Constitution Day, he blessed us with a symbol as significant as the broom, representing cleanliness, and said it is our responsibility to wield this broom and clean the country. When you clean, dust and debris will rise; struggles are inevitable. This struggle was written in our destiny.”
Addressing the party’s journey, he continued, “If someone asks what we have achieved in 12 years, they might point out that we have formed governments in two states, got five MLAs in Gujarat, MLAs in Goa and Kashmir, and elected mayors and councillors in several places. But I believe AAP’s biggest achievement is giving this country a new model of governance.”
“We’ve shown that governments can run with honesty. And if governments work honestly, anything is possible. Governments need not operate at a loss; they can function profitably too,” he added.
The AAP Chief asserted that we gave a governance model to the country which on one hand prioritises improving the lives of common people. We have worked like a friend or family member to bring ease and comfort into their lives. We waived electricity and water bills. We provided excellent education for their children because every parent wants their kids to study well, even if it means skipping a meal or cutting back on expenses. We ensured quality healthcare so that no one worries when a loved one falls sick.
“On one hand, we provided these basic facilities, and on the other, we developed Delhi’s infrastructure. When our government was formed, Delhi had 200 kilometres of metro lines. Today, it has 450 kilometres. We’ve built 10,000 kilometres of roads. In 65 years, only 62 flyovers were constructed, but in just 9 years, we’ve built 38 new ones. We’ve installed pipelines, improved drainage systems, and revitalised kacchi colonies. Delhi now has the most CCTV cameras in the world, more than New York, London, or Tokyo,” added Arvind Kejriwal
The former Delhi CM stated that this is the Delhi model of governance: ease for common people, infrastructure development, and third–we achieved all this while keeping the budget in surplus, without letting it fall into deficit. I believe this model is our greatest contribution to date.
“Those who used to mock us, calling these ‘freebies,’ now talk about these very initiatives, talk about schools like ours. Even in Gujarat, during the elections, the Prime Minister had to build a small classroom to get his photo clicked in it. This shows that education is now a central topic in politics,” he highlighted.
The AAP National Convenor stated that people now ask politicians about schools, hospitals, electricity, water, and roads. This is a huge shift in politics, and it has happened because of our work. Over the years, countless faces have worked tirelessly for the party. Some have become ministers, chief ministers, MLAs, or councillors. “But many remain unsung heroes, still working passionately for the party. But why did they keep working, where did this passion come from,” he asked.
Arvind Kejriwal added that a prominent leader once asked what I feed my volunteers to make them so dedicated. We don’t feed them anything special. We fill them with patriotism. When an ordinary person or volunteer works for the AAP, they don’t do it to help the party or a leader win power. They work for the country. This sense of patriotism drives them to give their all — their time, money, and energy. Other parties may offer salaries or perks to their workers, but we offer nothing but the chance to serve the nation.
“We always say to our volunteers, this is your country, your children, our shared nation—it belongs to all of us. If you choose to work with the Aam Aadmi Party, the nation will progress even further. Otherwise, the same old system will keep running as it always has,” he further added.
The AAP Supremo asserted that during the last 12 years, every six months people claim the AAP is finished, it’s on the ventilator but we’re still here. I remember on 14 May 2014, Amit Shah declared on a TV debate that if Arvind Kejriwal remained in politics after May 16, he would debate with me. I am still here. They’ve been writing our political obituaries for 12 years now. When Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Sanjay Singh were jailed, they said the AAP would collapse. Yet, here we are, standing strong, we have gone nowhere.
Arvind Kejriwal also shared an interaction with a journalist who had asked him about the buzz in Delhi that his government was likely to return to power, albeit with a slight variation in seat margins. The journalist asked, “But let’s assume for a moment that you lose—what will happen to you?”
The National Convenor said, “I responsed that I’m not worried about what will happen to me if I lose. I am worried about what will happen to the 18 lakh children studying in Delhi’s government schools. Nowhere in the country are there schools like the ones in Delhi.”
He further highlighted, “After ten years of hard work, we have created such a great education system. If our government goes, what will happen to the parents of those children, who have started dreaming that their kids can achieve something?”
Stressing that his party does not aspire to power for its own sake, Arvind Kejriwal stated, “We didn’t come to power for the sake of power. No one in the Aam Aadmi Party came here for power. Our concern is that today, in Delhi, when someone in a poor family falls sick, they feel distressed because of the illness, but they don’t have to worry about money. They get free treatment in government hospitals and Mohalla Clinics.”
He stated, “Earlier, there used to be 8-10 hours of power cuts in Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party has given hope to the entire country. There was a time when people had lost hope that the government could do anything for them. They would just keep switching between parties out of frustration—angry with one, they’d vote for another.”
Arvind Kejriwal posed a question: “What will happen to the hope we’ve built?” Reflecting on his party’s journey, he said, “We’ve created that hope without succumbing to any pressure, and people have supported us wholeheartedly. That hope is our greatest achievement, and losing it would be a loss for everyone, not just for us.”
On the occasion of Constitution Day, Arvind Kejriwal extended his greetings to the people and members of the Aam Aadmi Party. He noted, “It’s been just two years since our government was formed in MCD, and within these two years, we’ve achieved two significant milestones.”
He elaborated on the first achievement, “Before our government came into power, sanitation workers had to go on strike for 12 months just to receive their salaries. In the past two years, there hasn’t been a single need for a strike. By the first week of every month, their salaries are credited to their accounts. This Diwali, even before the festival, their next month’s salary and bonuses were credited.”
Discussing the second milestone, Arvind Kejriwal said, “We have made more than 8,500 sanitation workers permanent. Sanitation workers come from underprivileged sections of our society, and on this occasion, I want to appeal to all MLAs and councilors to honor them. Invite all the sanitation workers in your respective areas to your homes for tea or meals. You may have to do it in batches—three to four times if needed—but ensure that you honor them.”
He shared, “In my area, I’m inviting all sanitation workers to my home tomorrow for tea. From the day after, all MLAs should call groups of 100-150 workers to their homes over three to four sessions. Spend time with them, get to know them, understand their issues, and show them respect. While work goes on, a little laughter and lighthearted moments can strengthen bonds.”
Arvind Kejriwal concluded with gratitude: “To all the workers, on this Constitution Day and our party’s foundation day, I extend my heartfelt wishes. Thank you very much.”
Reflecting on the journey of his party, he said, “Millions of people in this country want to do something for the nation—I was one of them. But no one knew what to do, how to do it, or where to go. You showed the way, and people came together to build this party. I assure you that in the upcoming elections, we will fight with all our energy and ensure victory.”
Meanwhile, CM Atishi said, “The slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ resonated in the Ram Leela Maidan. People from Delhi and across the country, who perhaps had never stepped out of their homes or jobs, came out when an anti-corruption movement began. They came out for change, to create a better government.”
She further stated, “At that time, those in power would say, when the media asked about anti-corruption laws, ‘Who are these people to tell us about the law? If they want to bring a law, let them contest elections, win, and then bring it.’ That challenge was thrown at us by the leaders of this country. But they didn’t know that Arvind Kejriwal would bring a miracle to the politics of this country. Arvind Kejriwal is the person who not only dreamed of change in this country but also made that dream come true.”
CM Atishi continued, “When the AAP was formed 12 years ago on Constitution Day, people laughed at us, saying, ‘Will you do politics? You don’t have money power, muscle power, and you don’t talk about caste, creed, or religion; such politics doesn’t work in this country.’ When Arvind Kejriwal contested against the three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit from New Delhi, people said, ‘If Arvind Kejriwal contests from another seat, AAP may win one seat, but now they won’t win any.'”
She added, “Every worker of this party built it with their blood and sweat, and not only did we form the government in 2013, but our 49-day government became known nationwide. And when the BJP conspired to stop the elections, it was because of these workers that in 2015, when we contested elections, the power of AAP and the people of Delhi was demonstrated, and we formed the government with 67 out of 70 seats, making Arvind Kejriwal the Chief Minister of Delhi.”
CM Atishi said, “This drove the other parties crazy. They realized that if a party with honesty, without distributing money or playing caste-religion politics, can form a government, their political businesses would be shut down.”
She shared, “In February 2015, when our government was formed, the BJP-led central government, through an illegal and unconstitutional notification, stripped the elected government of Delhi of its powers. But I salute Arvind Kejriwal Ji, the most popular Chief Minister of Delhi, who, despite these hardships, has done more for the people of Delhi in the past 10 years than what has been achieved in the last 75 years of the country’s politics.”
CM Atishi said, “In 2020, when elections came again, people said that AAP was finished. Winning elections for this party is now impossible. But AAP’s workers and the people of Delhi proved that not only can politics be done on the basis of work, but elections can also be won, and won with a landslide. In these 12 years, we gained councillors, MLAs, MPs, and national party status.”
CM Atishi shared, “Before Arvind Kejriwal’s government, when a poor child went to a government school, their eyes were on the ground, their shoulders were slumped, and they felt ashamed to say they studied in a government school. Across the country, government schools were in such a bad state that it was said that they were on the brink of collapse. But in the past 12 years, we’ve seen that now the results of Delhi’s government schools are better than private schools.
She further added that we’ve seen children from poor families pass JEE and NEET exams and get admissions to top medical and engineering colleges. Through AAP’s journey, the whole country has learned that today, every state government is inspired by the Delhi model to improve government schools.
She shared, “Earlier, if a member of a poor family in Delhi fell ill, they had to mortgage their jewelry or house to afford treatment. But now, after 10 years of Arvind Kejriwal and Satyendar Jain’s health revolution, today, no matter how poor a person is, whether the treatment costs Rs 1,000, 1 lakh, or 1 crore, all the money is provided by the Delhi government. They don’t have to spend a single rupee.”
CM Atishi said, “This 12-year journey and the work done for the common man troubled the BJP. They thought, since we can’t work like Arvind Kejriwal, let’s stop his work. That’s why, for the last two years, BJP has left no stone unturned to harass Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. They put Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh in jail and even falsely imprisoned Arvind Kejriwal.
“I want to salute all the leaders of AAP, their families, our MLAs, councillors, and every worker who has faced such injustice, which may not have been faced by any other party in this country,” added Delhi CM.
She said, “But AAP did not break, did not bow, and kept fighting. And now the time has come. Elections will be held in Delhi in February. Once again, every AAP worker must show this authoritarian government that no matter how much oppression you inflict on us, no matter how hard you try to suppress or break us, we are Arvind Kejriwal’s soldiers, Bhagat Singh’s disciples.”
“No one can suppress us, no one can break us. And in the February elections, together, we will make Arvind Kejriwal the Chief Minister of Delhi for the fourth time with a massive majority. This is the pledge of every AAP worker,” affirmed the Delhi Chief Minister.
AAP National General Secretary (Organization), Dr. Sandeep Pathak, emphasized the significance of the Constitution as the foundation of democracy. He stated, “The progress of any country depends on the protection and security of its Constitution. The responsibility to protect it does not lie with any one political party alone—it is the duty of every individual, every citizen of this nation.”
He further noted, “It is a unique coincidence that Constitution Day and the foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party fall on the same date. The Aam Aadmi Party, fulfilling its responsibility, was established with the aim of safeguarding the Constitution, improving the lives of common citizens, and ushering in a new kind of politics in this country.”
Reflecting on the party’s journey, Dr. Sandeep Pathak said, “Twelve years ago, we came together to give birth to this party, and our founder, Arvind Kejriwal, gave a new direction to the nation’s politics. Having an idea, nurturing it, and taking it to such heights is extraordinary. Around the world, there are very few examples where a new idea in just ten years leads to the formation of a party that governs two states and builds an organization across the country.”
He also spoke about the challenges faced by the party, and said, “Over these 12 years, the BJP has made every effort to break our party. When they jailed almost all our top leaders, they likely believed their plan would succeed. But they could not have imagined that the AAP would emerge stronger from this crisis.”
Dr. Sandeep Pathak expressed gratitude to party workers, saying, “During those difficult times, when our leaders were jailed as part of a conspiracy, I salute every single worker who stood united, protected the party, and carried it forward. The BJP may continue its conspiracies, but we will keep fighting them. Let them do whatever they wish; we are doing well, we will continue to do well, and we will work even harder for the country in the future.”
Meanwhile, AAP Delhi State Convenor, Gopal Rai talked about the significance of the party’s foundation day coinciding with India’s Constitution Day, saying, “Today marks the foundation day of the Constitution of India under the leadership of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. It is no coincidence that the Aam Aadmi Party was also founded on this day.”
He further said, “The name ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ was chosen thoughtfully, as the party was born from the anti-corruption movement in this country. We are proud that the Aam Aadmi Party was established on Constitution Day under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal.”
He recalled the anti-corruption movement, stating, “Back then, many people argued that until individuals are in power, they can talk about honesty, but once they get power, they inevitably fall to dishonesty. Today, the Aam Aadmi Party has sent a powerful message to the nation—that it is possible to remain honest even after coming to power.”
Gopal Rai criticized the BJP, remarking, “I can say with full responsibility—forget about the Chief Minister or Ministers—even if an honest investigation is conducted against a BJP councilor, there is not a single leader against whom evidence of corruption cannot be found. Yet, the Aam Aadmi Party remains steadfast, standing like a rock against all storms.”
The Delhi State Convenor said that while the BJP has the power of the CBI, ED, money, and hatred, the Aam Aadmi Party has always relied on the power of honesty—and this honesty will define the history of Indian politics.
He further emphasized, “The BJP and other leaders are not afraid of Arvind Kejriwal’s body—they fear his ideas. When people across the country had given up hope in politics, Arvind Kejriwal kindled a ray of hope in Delhi. Today, the entire country looks to that hope, desiring it to illuminate every corner of India.”
Speaking about the party’s future, Gopal Rai declared, “Some people are determined to extinguish this lamp of hope in Delhi. But the upcoming elections will make it clear—this lamp will neither be extinguished nor stopped. It started in the nation’s capital and will reach every corner of the country, spreading the light of honest politics everywhere.”
