Arvind Kejriwal

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Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Delhi. Born on August 16, 1968, in Siwani, Haryana, Kejriwal studied mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. He later joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995 as an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax. However, in 2006, he resigned from his government job to dedicate himself fully to social activism.

Kejriwal became prominent for his role in the Right to Information (RTI) movement in India, which sought greater transparency and accountability in government operations. He co-founded the NGO Parivartan to address issues related to public service delivery in Delhi. His social work earned him recognition, and in 2006, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership.

Kejriwal rose to national prominence during the anti-corruption movement in 2011, led by social activist Anna Hazare. The movement, known as the India Against Corruption (IAC) campaign, demanded the creation of a strong anti-corruption legislation known as the Jan Lokpal Bill. Although the movement garnered widespread support, Kejriwal eventually parted ways with Hazare, deciding to enter politics to achieve these reforms through legislative means.

In 2012, Kejriwal launched the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which aimed to challenge the existing political structure and offer a clean, transparent government. In the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, AAP made a significant impact, and Kejriwal briefly became the Chief Minister of Delhi in December 2013. However, he resigned after 49 days due to disagreements over the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Kejriwal returned to power in the 2015 Delhi elections with a landslide victory, winning 67 out of 70 seats in the Legislative Assembly. He was re-elected as Chief Minister in 2020 after AAP secured another overwhelming victory. Under his leadership, the Delhi government has focused on areas such as education, healthcare, water, and electricity subsidies. Kejriwal's governance model, often referred to as the "Delhi model," has drawn attention for its focus on improving public services.