Arvind Kejriwal's political journey is a dramatic tale of ambition, disruption, and turbulence. From being an anti-corruption crusader to becoming Delhi’s Chief Minister and facing an existential crisis, his trajectory exemplifies both the power and pitfalls of disruptive politics in India.

The Meteoric Rise: An Outsider Revolutionizing Politics

Kejriwal burst onto the national scene through the India against Corruption (IAC) movement in 2011, alongside Anna Hazare. His demand for a Jan Lokpal Bill struck a chord with a disillusioned middle class fed up with systemic corruption. Unlike Hazare, Kejriwal saw electoral politics as the next step and, in 2012, founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), positioning it as a transparent, corruption-free alternative to traditional political forces.

Defying expectations, AAP stunned the establishment in the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections, winning 28 of 70 seats and forming a minority government with Congress support. However, his abrupt resignation after 49 days—citing obstacles in passing the Jan Lokpal Bill—earned him the tag of being an anarchist. Despite this misstep, Kejriwal staged a sensational comeback in 2015, securing 67 of 70 seats in Delhi, reducing the BJP and Congress to irrelevance in the capital.

The Kejriwal Model: Governance and Expansion

Kejriwal's administration projected itself as a pro-people, welfarist model, focusing on free electricity, water subsidies, improved government schools, and mohalla clinics. These welfare schemes, along with efficient political messaging, won him a second term in 2020 with another landslide (62/70 seats). The AAP then sought national expansion, targeting Punjab, Gujarat, and other states, while........

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