Who Is Sunita Kejriwal, Could She Be Delhi’s Next CM?

Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, but that’s not it. She is a 1994-batch Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer, dedicated 22 years of service in the Income Tax (I-T) department before opting for voluntary retirement in 2016.

Her professional journey intersected with Arvind Kejriwal, also an IRS officer from the 1995 batch, during a training program in Bhopal. Notably, Sunita’s tenure culminated with her role as commissioner of I-T in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Delhi.

Her academic background includes a master’s degree in Zoology, as documented in official records. Beyond her career, Sunita has been a steadfast companion to Arvind Kejriwal, actively participating in significant events such as the India Against Corruption movement, the establishment of the Aam Aadmi Party, and subsequent election campaigns.

During Kejriwal’s challenging electoral battle against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Sunita took a considerable leave of absence from her duties to support her husband’s political endeavors.

Why is Sunita becoming the talk of town? 

In recent days, Sunita has stepped into a more prominent public role following her husband’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged excise policy scam.

Since his arrest on March 21, Sunita Kejriwal has twice conveyed messages from Arvind Kejriwal to the public through video messages, defending him and sharing updates on his health.

In a recent video message, Sunita Kejriwal spoke about her husband’s health, mentioning his diabetes and fluctuating sugar levels but also emphasizing his strong resolve. She also mentioned that Arvind Kejriwal intends to reveal significant information related to the alleged excise policy scam in court and present evidence regarding the whereabouts of the proceeds of crime.

However, Sunita Kejriwal’s public appearances have drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Union Minister Anurag Thakur likened her actions to those of former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, suggesting a parallel with the situation where Rabri Devi became more involved in governance following her husband’s arrest.

Can She Be Delhi’s Next CM?

Days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, made public statements following his arrest, BJP leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur drew comparisons between her actions and those of Rabri Devi, the wife of former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav.

During a rally in Jammu and in an interview with news agency ANI, Thakur remarked that Sunita, like Rabri, is taking a more vocal role in representing her husband and speculated that she may eventually assume a greater leadership position. Thakur cited the example of Rabri Devi, who became more involved in governance after Lalu Prasad Yadav’s involvement in the fodder scam.