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India’s most famous anti-corruption campaigner is now fighting to stay relevant. India’s most famous anti-corruption campaigner is now fighting to stay relevant.
(about 2 hours later)
The small caravan of auto rickshaws -- India’s three-wheeled, green-and-yellow taxis – made its way up a crowded street over the weekend, as supporters of India’s Common Man Party waved white flags and chanted the name of their leader, Arvind Kejriwal. The small caravan of auto rickshaws -- India’s three-wheeled, green-and-yellow taxis -- made its way up a crowded street over the weekend, as supporters of India’s Common Man Party waved white flags and chanted the name of their leader, Arvind Kejriwal.
It is here in the working class neighborhoods of East Delhi that Kejriwal, 46, first found widespread political support, before he and his fledgling Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party pulled off an upset victory in the 2013 Delhi election – then ran the city for a tumultuous 49 days. It is here in the working-class neighborhoods of East Delhi that Kejriwal, 46, first found widespread political support, before he and his fledgling Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party pulled off an upset victory in the 2013 Delhi election -- then ran the city for a tumultuous 49 days.
As more than 10 million Delhi area residents head to the polls Feb. 7, Kejriwal and his supporters are back in the narrow lanes, seeking redemption.As more than 10 million Delhi area residents head to the polls Feb. 7, Kejriwal and his supporters are back in the narrow lanes, seeking redemption.
“The other politicians were the experts,” said Surjit Singh, pictured below, an auto rickshaw driver watching the caravan pass.  “He lost his balance. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get a second chance.” “The other politicians were the experts,” said Surjit Singh, pictured below, an auto rickshaw driver watching the caravan pass. “He lost his balance. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get a second chance.”
It won’t be easy going. Candidates from the national governing party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, have been out in force, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself campaigning vigorously in the city in the last few days – “this election will decide how the world perceives India,” Modi said at one point. Analysts say Kejriwal and the Common Man Party present the first serious political challenge to the B.J.P. since Modi's party swept to national power in May. It won’t be easy going. Candidates from the national governing party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have been out in force, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself campaigning vigorously in the city in the last few days. “This election will decide how the world perceives India,” Modi said at one point. Analysts say Kejriwal and the Common Man Party present the first serious political challenge to the BJP since Modi's party swept to national power in May.
Modi's leadership has chosen a candidate for chief minister who, like Kejriwal, has a flair for drama. Former policewoman Kiran Bedi once ran the city’s feared Tihar jail and long claimed to be so tough she towed the prime minister’s car --although it turns out an underling actually did that. In a twist, Bedi and Kejriwal are former allies from the early days of country’s anti-corruption movement, when hunger strikes and protests were common. Modi's leadership has chosen a candidate for chief minister who, like Kejriwal, has a flair for drama. Former policewoman Kiran Bedi once ran the city’s feared Tihar jail and long claimed to be so tough she towed the prime minister’s car -- although it turns out an underling actually did that. In a twist, Bedi and Kejriwal are former allies from the early days of the country’s anti-corruption movement, when hunger strikes and protests were common.
Kejriwal was a well-known activist when he shocked the city’s political establishment by unseating Delhi’s popular three-term chief minister in late 2013. His administration imploded publicly days later when Kejriwal launched a street protest over police corruption in the city that paralyzed its center for more than two days. He wore a scarf tied up around his face to protect a sore throat during that drama that has since become a trademark, earning him the nickname "the Muffler Man." During national elections, he ran unsuccessfully against Modi for a parliamentary seat in the holy city of Varanasi.Kejriwal was a well-known activist when he shocked the city’s political establishment by unseating Delhi’s popular three-term chief minister in late 2013. His administration imploded publicly days later when Kejriwal launched a street protest over police corruption in the city that paralyzed its center for more than two days. He wore a scarf tied up around his face to protect a sore throat during that drama that has since become a trademark, earning him the nickname "the Muffler Man." During national elections, he ran unsuccessfully against Modi for a parliamentary seat in the holy city of Varanasi.
On the hustings these days, Kejriwal appears contrite, and his party has offered up a populist manifesto with pledges of affordable electricity and free WiFi to everybody in the city.On the hustings these days, Kejriwal appears contrite, and his party has offered up a populist manifesto with pledges of affordable electricity and free WiFi to everybody in the city.
“He is called a bhagoda (one who abandoned responsibility) so he begins his campaign speeches by admitting to have been one and apologizing for it,” columnist Shekhar Gupta wrote in India Today magazine this week. “But basically he has understood Delhi better than others.” “He is called a bhagoda [one who abandoned responsibility] so he begins his campaign speeches by admitting to have been one and apologizing for it,” columnist Shekhar Gupta wrote in India Today magazine this week. “But basically he has understood Delhi better than others.”