Supporters throng Arvind's house after historic debut

House number 401, Girmar Apartments in Kaushambi here has become a much sought-after address.

The home of Aam Aadmi Party founder Arvind Kejriwal was Monday thronged by scores of relatives and enthusiastic supporters after the party’s stupendous performance in the Delhi polls.

Kejriwal’s modest three-bedroom house was filled with flowers, bouquets and packets of sweets, brought by his young admirers, activists, relatives and friends who poured in in a steady stream since early morning to congratulate him.

An aide said many people came on Sunday night itself to meet Kejriwal, who gave a drubbing to none other than Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, defeating her by over a record 25,000 votes in the Assembly elections.

Kejriwal’s party, founded a year ago, was able to decimate the Congress in Delhi and has made it difficult for the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government. It bagged 28 seats in the 70-member Assembly.

Though he was not feeling well on Monday, Kejriwal continued to meet as many people as possible, the aide said.

His house was packed with relatives and family friends. His wife, Sunita, an Indian Revenue Service official, refused to talk about her husband’s success but was beaming with happiness.

She was also the one who was ushering in guests.

Despite his illness and a hectic Sunday night, Kejriwal held a two-hour meeting with the winning candidates and other party members in his house.

After having lunch, he retired to rest, the aide said. Despite the excitement at home, Kejriwal’s two children — Harshita and Pulkit — went to school as usual. They study in Delhi Public School, Noida.

Kejriwal’s younger sister Suman recalled how her brother always talked about “power to the people”.

“He always talked about power to the people. Today, he has done it. I spent the entire day here (at Kejriwal’s home) and I am very happy,” Suman said.

She had come to greet her brother along with her husband and in-laws.

“He is not so well but he keeps on attending the meetings,” said Suman, who lives in Haryana.

Two girls in their teens also came to meet Kejriwal holding roses in their hands but had to return disappointed when they couldn’t meet him.

“I am disappointed but I met aunty (Kejriwal’s wife). She took my flowers and told me that he is sleeping. I will come again,” said Priyanka, one
of the girls.