By Alok Singh, IANS,
Ghaziabad : House number 401, Girmar Apartments in Kaushambi area here has become a much sought after address. The home of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 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 told IANS that many people came 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 Dec 4 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 (BJP) 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, who did not wish to be named, said.
When IANS visited his house it was packed with relatives and family friends. His wife, Sunita, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) 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. The two study in Delhi Public School (DPS), 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 told IANS.
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.
Priyanshu, who lives on the 11th floor in the same building, said he is very friendly with Kejriwal’s children.
“Didi (sister) and Bhaiya (brother) are very hard working. Harshita didi is always studying and Pulkit bhaiya is a very talented sportsperson,” said Priyanshu, a Class 6 student at the same school who travels by the same school bus.
While Harshita studies in Class 11, her brother is in Class 7.
“In the evening, we play together in the park,” Priyanshu told IANS.
“I am very happy that he (Kejriwal) has won and that he lives here,” he added.