Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal
Official portrait, 2022
7th Chief Minister of Delhi
In office
14 February 2015 – 21 September 2024
Lieutenant Governor
DeputyManish Sisodia (till 28 February 2023)
Preceded byPresident's rule
Succeeded byAtishi Marlena Singh
In office
28 December 2013 – 14 February 2014
Lieutenant GovernorNajeeb Jung
Preceded bySheila Dikshit
Succeeded byPresident's rule
Member of Delhi Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
14 February 2015
Preceded byPresident's rule
ConstituencyNew Delhi
In office
28 December 2013 – 14 February 2014
Preceded bySheila Dikshit
Succeeded byPresident's rule
ConstituencyNew Delhi
National Convener of the Aam Aadmi Party
Assumed office
26 November 2012
Preceded byposition established
Personal details
Born (1968-08-16) 16 August 1968 (age 56)
Siwani, Haryana, India
Political partyAam Aadmi Party
Spouse
Sunita Kejriwal
(m. 1995)
Children2
Residence5, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi
Alma materIIT Kharagpur (B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering)
Profession
  • Politician
  • activist
  • bureaucrat
Known for
AwardsRamon Magsaysay Award

Arvind Kejriwal (Hindi pronunciation: [əɾʋin̪d̪ ked͡ʒɾiːʋaːl]; born 16 August 1968) is an Indian politician, activist and former bureaucrat, who served as the 7th Chief Minister of Delhi. He was the chief minister from 2013 to 2014 and from 2015 to 2024. He is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) since 2012. He has represented the New Delhi constituency in the Delhi Legislative Assembly since 2015 and from 2013 to 2014.

In 2006, Kejriwal was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his involvement in the Parivartan movement using right to information legislation in a campaign against government corruption. The same year, after resigning from government service, he founded the Public Cause Research Foundation to campaign for transparent governance. Before entering politics, Kejriwal had worked in the Indian Revenue Service. Prior to that, he was a mechanical engineer from IIT Kharagpur.

In 2012, he launched the AAP. In 2013, he assumed office as the Chief Minister of Delhi and resigned 49 days later over his inability to mobilise support for his proposed anti-corruption legislation. In the 2015 Delhi Legislative assembly elections, the AAP registered an unprecedented majority. In subsequent 2020 elections, AAP re-emerged victorious and retained power in Delhi, following which, Kejriwal was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi for the third time in a row. Outside Delhi, his party registered another major victory in 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election.

He was arrested on 21 March 2024 by the Enforcement Directorate on allegations of a liquor scam against the Aam Aadmi Party led Delhi Government.[1][2] He became the first ever sitting chief minister in India to be arrested.[3] On 10 May, the Supreme Court ordered Kejriwal's release on interim bail until 1 June 2024, on account of campaigning for the election.[4][5] Kejriwal surrendered at Tihar Jail after the expiry of his bail period on 2 June 2024. On 13 September 2024, he was granted bail by Supreme Court with certain conditions. However, the investigation pertaining to the case still continues.[6] On 15 September 2024, he proposed to resign as Delhi Chief Minister and formally abdicated the post on 17 September 2024.[7]

  1. ^ Anand, Jatin (24 March 2024). "Congress's Kejriwal dilemma deepens as it balances ties with AAP – friends in Delhi, foes in Punjab". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Rahul Gandhi rolls dice on same subject in diverse ways: Smriti Irani on his "double standards" on excise policy scam". The Economic Times. ANI. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Arvind Kejriwal is first sitting chief minister to be arrested". Hindustan Times. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  4. ^ Dayal, Sakshi (12 May 2024). "India's opposition jubilant as Modi critic Kejriwal gets bail to campaign in elections". The Reuters. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Arvind Kejriwal hearing LIVE Updates: All eyes on Supreme Court over Delhi CM's bail plea". Hindustan Times. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  6. ^ Sharda, Kanu (13 September 2024). "Dos and don'ts for Arvind Kejriwal as Supreme Court grants him bail". India Today. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).