Few Indian politicians embody the contradictions of modern politics like Arvind Kejriwal. The former bureaucrat-turned-anti-corruption crusader, who once inspired legions with his slogan of clean governance, now finds himself locked in a complex battle over his own integrity.
On Friday, Kejriwal emerged from Tihar Jail to a hero’s welcome from supporters of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Released on bail by India’s Supreme Court, the Delhi Chief Minister wasted no time in portraying his incarceration as a moral victory and, in a thinly-veiled rebuke at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claimed he had been targeted not for corruption but for daring to fight “anti-national forces” allegedly weakening India.His release has ignited a wave of celebration within AAP ranks, as though a political victory has been secured ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly election. But such celebrations may be premature.
Kejriwal’s legal troubles stem from the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, an ambitious attempt to reform the city’s alcohol sales framework. The policy’s alleged flaws gave rise to corruption charges involving the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), resulting in his earlier this year. The agencies accuse him of graft and money laundering, charges he denies vehemently. Yet, despite being granted interim bail in the ED’s money laundering case in July, Kejriwal’s release was delayed due to his subsequent arrest by the CBI. The spectacle of his staggered detentions has led many to view his predicament through a political lens, with Kejriwal depicting himself as a victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by the central government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In an unusually pointed observation, Justice Bhuyan of the Supreme Court questioned the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest - 22 months after the first information report (FIR) was registered - while criticizing the CBI’s handling of the case, reminding the agency of its duty to act with integrity and fairness and not to function as a “caged parrot” speaking in its master’s voice.
And yet, Kejriwal’s release on bail is far from an exoneration. The legal proceedings against him are expected to drag on. As the BJP was quick to point out, Kejriwal’s bail is a civil right, not an acquittal. The trial will soon commence, and the AAP leader still faces a long legal battle ahead.
Kejriwal’s arrest has come at a politically sensitive time. Delhi is set to hold its Assembly elections in early 2025, and the BJP is already recalibrating its strategy. For months, the BJP has portrayed AAP as a “den of corrupt leaders,” highlighting the arrests of Kejriwal’s close associates, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendra Jain, on similar corruption charges. With Kejriwal and his associates now out on bail, the BJP will likely shift its narrative to focus on the alleged “constitutional crisis” in the capital.
From his early days as an anti-corruption activist, Kejriwal has cultivated an image of himself as a man willing to challenge entrenched interests. His tenure as Delhi’s CM has often been marked by conflict with the central government over the city-state’s limited powers, a struggle that resonates with voters who view him as a voice for local governance.
His political rise has always been unconventional, marked by his ability to turn crises into opportunities. Whether it was his brief resignation (for 49 days) in 2014 or his frequent clashes with the central government, Kejriwal has consistently positioned himself as an outsider, fighting the political establishment on behalf of ordinary citizens. This narrative of victimhood has resonated with his supporters, allowing him to weather scandals that might sink other politicians.
His administration has been lauded for populist policies like free electricity, water, and healthcare, which have won him strong support among Delhi’s lower-middle class.
But Kejriwal’s political journey has not been without contradictions: he has adopted pragmatic strategies to stay politically relevant, sometimes allying with figures he once opposed.
His immediate challenge is to navigate the legal labyrinth ahead, even as he prepares for the forthcoming elections.
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