This former tax inspector turned anti-corruption campaigner shook Indian politics to its roots when he led a landslide victory in Delhi State elections this February, virtually wiping out the Hindu nationalist BJP party. Until that point the BJP had been thought to be in unchallenged ascendency in Indian politics under their controversial leader Narendra Modi.
Back in 2012, Kejriwal brought together parts of the anti-corruption movement to form the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a political party focusing on the corruption issue, to challenge Congress and the BJP – the two old warhorses of Indian politics, both severely compromised by bribery, kick-backs and crony capitalism. Kejriwal had served previously as First Minister of Delhi but had quit when his minority government was blocked from bringing in anti-corruption legislation by the old-school parties. With all but three of the 70 assembly seats, he will face no such problem this time around.
