Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal, the National Convenor of AAP, assumed the role of Chief Minister of Delhi for the third time on 16th February 2020, following his initial swearing-in on December 28, 2013. When he became the 2nd youngest Chief Minister of Delhi. His impressive electoral victory in 2013, defeating the three-term Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the New Delhi constituency by a substantial margin of over 22,000 votes, marked the beginning of his impactful political journey. Under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, AAP has won multiple elections in the states of Punjab, Gujarat, and Goa. His developmental model is widely popular in the country for offering basic amenities to civilians free of cost like Free & 24-hour electricity, Free Water Supply, Free Pilgrimage for Elders, Free bus rides for women, and 1000 Rs/ Month to all women above 18 yrs of age.

On 21st March 2024, Kejriwal was arrested right before the 2024 Lok Sabha election by the ED to stop him from campaigning. He became the first ever sitting chief minister in India to be arrested. On 10th May, the Supreme Court ordered Kejriwal’s release on interim bail, on account of campaigning for the Lok Sabha election.

Before venturing into politics, Kejriwal established the NGO Parivartan, dedicated to addressing citizens’ grievances about the Public Distribution System (PDS), public works, social welfare schemes, income tax, and electricity. His commitment to public service led him to resign from the Income Tax Department in 2006. In the same year, he selflessly donated his Magsaysay award money to establish the Public Cause Research Foundation.

Widely recognised as a social activist, political reformer, and former Joint Commissioner in the Income Tax Department, Kejriwal is renowned for his advocacy of the Right to Information and his unwavering dedication to the Jan Lokpal cause. His book ‘Swaraj,’ outlining his vision of local self-governance and administrative decentralization, stands testament to his ideological convictions. As an anti-corruption crusader, he played a pivotal role in leading former members of India Against Corruption towards alternative politics, leading to the Aam Aadmi Party being founded on October 2, 2012.

Kejriwal’s educational background includes graduating from IIT Kharagpur with a B.Tech in mechanical engineering in 1989. His journey continued with his selection for the Indian Revenue Service in 1993, shaping the trajectory of his impactful career in both activism and politics.