Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal shifted to a new residence in the national capital on Friday after deciding to end his tenure as the chief minister of Delhi
Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener and former Chief Minister of Delhi, Kejriwal vacated his old residence at 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines. Former CM Kejriwal has moved to a new address in Lutyens’ Zone, where he will reside with his family in the official residence of Punjab Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal. This he did within days of submitting his resignation as Delhi’s Chief Minister last month.
This is another landmark in the political journey of Kejriwal: Kejriwal Vacates Flagstaff Road Residence
On Friday morning, Kejriwal and his family formally vacated his decade-long residence, 6, Flagstaff Road. While the outgoing chief minister rode out of the house in a car with his wife and son, his parents and daughter followed in another vehicle. Mini trucks were seen going into the premises earlier in the day to help with the moving of the family’s belongings.
For all his tenure as Delhi Chief Minister, Kejriwal was representing the Civil Lines bungalow in entirety. But with a resignation, it was only that the AAP leader chose to go back to the official residence from whence he would drive away into much fanfare, as many seem to note, marking the shift for the erstwhile answerable man as Chief Minister to a more overt role within his party.
Fresh Address in Lutyens’ Zone
Kejriwal’s new residence is on Ferozeshah Road, adjacent to Mandi House, in the plush Lutyens’ Zone of New Delhi. “The house belongs to Punjab Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, who just happened to invite Kejriwal and his family to stay at his Delhi home. Kejriwal’s new office is housed at Aam Aadmi Party’s headquarters, located at Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane. The AAP headquarters is not too far away from the new residence of Kejriwal, which makes it a rather convenient place for him to handle all his politicking activities.
In a video message, Ashok Mittal said he was overjoyed that Kejriwal has accepted his offer to stay at his home in Delhi. “When he resigned as the Chief Minister, I came to know that he had no place to stay. I invited him to be my guest at my Delhi residence and it brings me great joy that he accepted my request,” Mittal said while indicating the deep sense of camaraderie within AAP.
Residences of AAP Leaders Get Reshuffled
Kejriwal is not alone in his fellows whose residences are getting reshuffled either. Manish Sisodia, who was Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister and is Kejriwal’s confidant, has also shifted from his residence. Sisodia has moved to a bungalow on Rajendra Prasad Road, another premium address in New Delhi. The bungalow is owned by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh.
The movement of both Kejriwal and Sisodia reflects that the leadership of AAP is pretty close-knit, with party MPs throwing open their residences to the more senior figures of the party. Several other AAP leaders-including MPs, MLAs, and councillors-offered their homes to Kejriwal when he declared his intention to vacate 6, Flagstaff Road. The offers themselves become testimony to the kind of cross-party support Kejriwal enjoys in his party ranks, and the decision to opt for a residence close to the AAP headquarters reflects his intention of remaining an active political player.
Delectable Location for Political Campaigning
What has really attracted the most attention to Kejriwal’s decision to move to his new residence is its strategic location. Seen in New Delhi, which is also Kejriwal’s Assembly constituency, the residency places Kejriwal in an excellent vantage position through which he can oversee and manage AAP’s election campaigns effectively. The elections that are soon to be held in Delhi and other states are vital for the Aam Aadmi Party, and Kejriwal’s nearness to the headquarters of the party will make it possible for him to monitor campaign activities more efficiently.
He said, AAP leaders have made it amply clear that Kejriwal would play a pivotal role in the party’s election strategy not just in Delhi but also wherever the party is looking to expand its presence. The move of Kejriwal to the Lutyens’ Zone, traditionally identified with political power, underlines the importance of this period for the party.
After Kejriwal’s resignation
Kejriwal’s sudden resignation as the Chief Minister of Delhi last month came like a bolt from the blue to all and sundry, and has led many to speculate as to what next for the former head of government of the state. While he may have decided to step down from his position in the Delhi government, his new residence in New Delhi strongly hints at him remaining thoroughly engaged with the political scene, albeit in a different capacity now.
Kejriwal’s resignation and decision to shift location has led some political analysts to the opinion that Kejriwal is resigning as a predecessor, while Kejriwal himself feels that it will enable him to grow further as a national leader within AAP, considering that the party needs to gain strength beyond Delhi. The party is looking ahead at various elections in the states and will be stabilized by Kejriwal’s leadership.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Arvind Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal quitting his home at 6, Flagstaff Road after all these years to settle into a new address in the Lutyens’ Zone is a watershed moment in his political life. Throwing in his resignation as Chief Minister of Delhi, Kejriwal now prepares himself to lead his party AAP from the new base provided very close to the headquarters.
With other leaders and even the key figures Manish Sisodia shifting residences, the Aam Aadmi Party is seen to consolidate its leadership ahead of crucial elections. With Kejriwal’s residence next door to the AAP headquarters, he cannot get farther than to be out of the centring heart of the party’s decision making. This helps him hold a tight grip on what direction the party should take. The move, therefore, presents not just a new place to address but perhaps a new phase in Kejriwal’s political career to see him play an even larger role on the national stage.
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