Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishws launched a scathing critique of his erstwhile colleague Arvind Kejriwal following the AAP’s crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, accusing him of betraying friends, exploiting party workers’ dreams, and succumbing to arrogance. Vishwas, a co-founder of AAP, described Kejriwal’s loss as a consequence of his “selfish actions” and hailed the BJP’s victory as “justice delivered” for Delhi.
Vishwas lamented that the once-inspiring anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, which birthed AAP, had been “wasted” under Kejriwal’s leadership. He claimed the Delhi Chief Minister had “shattered the hopes” of countless supporters who believed in a corruption-free India, accusing him of disrespecting mentors, breaking familial bonds, and prioritizing personal ambition over collective goals. The poet-politician drew parallels between Kejriwal and the mythical Duryodhana, symbolizing pride leading to downfall, and declared, “The arrogant Duryodhana has met his defeat”.
The former AAP leader also referenced the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal, an AAP MP, by Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar in May 2024. Vishwas highlighted the irony of a young woman dedicating her life to the party only to face violence, with Kejriwal allegedly remaining a silent spectator during the incident. “I sympathize with all those who wasted their time and lives on him,” he remarked, underscoring the erosion of trust in AAP’s leadership.
Vishwas reserved sharp words for Manish Sisodia, Kejriwal’s deputy, who lost the Jangpura seat by a narrow margin. He revealed that his own “apolitical wife” wept upon hearing of Sisodia’s defeat, a poignant reflection of the emotional toll AAP’s collapse has taken on its earliest supporters. The BJP’s landslide victory, securing 48 of 70 seats, marked a historic shift as Delhi ousted AAP after a decade-long rule plagued by corruption scandals like the liquor policy scam and the controversial ₹33-crore renovation of Kejriwal’s official residence, dubbed “Sheesh Mahal”.
As AAP grappled with internal discord and a steady exodus of leaders—from Prashant Bhushan to Yogendra Yadav—Vishwas’s remarks underscored a broader narrative of disillusionment. “Delhi is now free from him,” he declared, framing the election results as a reckoning for Kejriwal’s “autocratic” style and unfulfilled promises. The BJP, capitalizing on anti-incumbency and AAP’s governance failures, now prepares to helm the capital after 27 years, leaving Kejriwal’s political future in tatters.
