Following his unexpected release from jail during a heated general election, Indian politician Arvind Kejriwal has taken off, mobilizing the opposition against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On May 10, the Supreme Court granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal, the 55-year-old chief minister of Delhi, the national capital territory, in a fraud case. Kejriwal did not spare any time in embarking on his campaign.
“I only ask that you join forces with me in order to prevent a dictatorship from taking over the nation. Shortly after emerging from Delhi’s Tihar prison, he addressed a delighted mob, saying, “I am fighting this dictatorship with all my might,” obviously alluding to Modi.
As a major draw for the Congress party, Kejriwal is a member of the INDIA alliance. While his campaigning will likely give the opposition new life, analysts are not sure if this will result in any major wins over the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is expected to make a comeback to power.
Of the 543 parliamentary seats up for grabs, Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has control in the Delhi area and the northern state of Punjab combined.
“Would his ability to garner some sympathy votes be sufficient to alter the election’s outcome?” stated Rahul Verma, a fellow with the think tank Centre for Policy Research, situated in New Delhi.
“A significant swing is required for the BJP to begin losing seats in Delhi, as the party led by 20 percentage points on average in every seat,” Verma continued.
A day following his release, he declared that Modi, who was instrumental in the governing party’s campaign, will cede control of the prime ministership to Home Minister Amit Shah once he is 75 in 2025.
“Modi established the BJP’s 75-year-old retirement policy. So, I would want to know, BJP, who will be prime minister? stated Arvind Kejriwal.
