NEW DELHI: In the narrow lanes of northeast Delhi’s Sunder Nagri, the air crackled with conversations – not about the local election, but about Arvind Kejriwal’s defeat. Though he didn’t lose from this constituency, the people here – who once propelled him to political stardom – spoke of his downfall as if it were their own reckoning. This was, after all, where his political journey took root, the karambhoomi where his hunger strike against corruption and taxation in 2013 first captured national attention.
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But amid the post-mortem of his political loss, another name surfaced just as often – Santosh Kohli.
Kohli’s story remains a painful chapter in Sunder Nagri’s history. The social activist, whose mother played a crucial role in helping Kejriwal establish his Parivartan NGO, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run incident in 2013. “In this very house, Kejriwal staged his hunger strike. Now my daughter’s picture still hangs on these walls. She introduced him to the very people he championed. But when she was taken from us, he turned his back,” her mother Kalavati told TOI.
Today, that very house – once the birthplace of Kejriwal’s political career – now wears the colours of the BJP, a stark reminder of shifting tides. Kalavati, now 64, is resolute in her support for the saffron party. “Not just us, but many former AAP loyalists feel betrayed. I have worked in the social sector for years, and I understand the struggles of my people. And now, almost everyone here supports the BJP-his biggest rival.”
For some, his defeat is seen as poetic justice. “He ignored Kohli’s family when they needed him the most. Now, he is facing the consequences of his karma.” Others attribute his loss to his alleged involvement in the liquor scam. “We once supported him because he stood against corruption. But then his name started surfacing in scandals. It feels like he has come full circle – his rise was built on fighting corruption, and now, corruption has led to his downfall,” said Vinod Kumar Jain (50).
As one wades through the weekly market crowd, the disenchantment is clear. “What has he truly done for us? I wouldn’t mind paying my bills if it meant we had safer roads, cleaner water, and proper sewage systems. But the worst part is how he abandoned the very people who once treated him like family. He didn’t even visit after Santosh Kohli’s death,” said a frustrated resident.
“We thought he would change the system, but in the end, he became just another politician,” said another voter.
Yet, some still stand by Aam Aadmi Party. “We are grateful for free water, electricity, and better schools. That’s why we continue to vote for AAP. We are sad he lost, but he will always be one of our own,” admitted one voter.
However, in Sunder Nagri’s Muslim-majority pockets, Kejriwal’s continued support comes with resignation rather than enthusiasm. “We vote for AAP because we don’t have better options. We can’t afford to lose subsidies. We don’t know how we will pay our bills now,” said Mehfooz Khan, 52.
Kejriwal’s absence from Sunder Nagri in recent years has not gone unnoticed. “Karmbhoomi nahi, karma-chhuti (Not a workplace, but a holiday),” remarked RK Swamy, 44, emphasising how Kejriwal’s detachment has cost him dearly.