During a rally organized by the opposition bloc INDIA on Sunday, Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Kalpana Soren, wife of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, took the stage for the first time, emphasizing the urgent need to vote out the BJP. Their participation signaled a broader political engagement following the arrests of their husbands. At the ‘Loktantra Bachao’ (save democracy) rally held at Ramlila Maidan, two chairs symbolizing the absent leaders, Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, were placed empty. Sunita and Kalpana held the BJP-led central government responsible for the arrests, articulating their discontent with the prevailing political climate.
Many opposition figures stood in solidarity with Kalpana Soren and Sunita Kejriwal, including Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), who remarked, “When two of our sisters are fighting, how can the brothers stay behind?… Not just us, the whole country is with you.” Sunita’s prominence surged following the arrest of the Delhi chief minister by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case linked to excise policy.
Previously known as a former IRS officer, she was primarily observed on stage offering her support or acknowledging party workers. Following the historic mandate secured by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi in 2015, winning 67 out of the 70 assembly seats, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted his gratitude towards her consistent presence. A picture accompanying the tweet depicted him joyfully embracing her.
Almost a year after Arvind Kejriwal assumed office as chief minister, Sunita opted for voluntary retirement from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 2016, culminating in a dedicated tenure of nearly 22 years within the Income Tax department. In the wake of his arrest, she conducted digital briefings, disseminating messages from him during his custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
During the INDIA bloc rally on Sunday, she not only relayed his message and unveiled his six “guarantees” but also hailed him as a “Sher” (lion) and confidently asserted his imminent release from custody. Commencing her speech, she questioned the validity of Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, highlighting Prime Minister Modi’s role in the matter. “Our Prime Minister Modi ji incarcerated my husband. Was it justified? Do you all believe that Kejriwal ji is a genuine patriot and an upright individual? The BJP faction insists that since Arvind Kejriwal is in custody, he should resign. Should Arvind Kejriwal ji resign?” she asked the audience.
As she addressed the crowd, she relayed Arvind Kejriwal’s message, urging them to envision an India where education and healthcare are accessible to all, regardless of wealth. “If you empower the INDIA bloc, together we can construct a remarkable nation,” she conveyed on his behalf. With Kejriwal’s detainment, AAP faces the task of finding a capable leader to manage both the party and the Delhi government. Speculation has arisen regarding Sunita Kejriwal as a potential successor to the detained leader.
As Sunita becomes increasingly involved in political affairs during her husband’s absence, the BJP drew comparisons between her and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, who entered politics under similar circumstances. Union Minister and BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri suggested on Friday that she might be gearing up to assume her husband’s position. “The individual you’re referring to may be preparing to step into the role, much like Rabri Devi did in Bihar,” he remarked. Additionally, the rally saw the presence of the spouses of incarcerated AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Satyendar Jain, with Manish Sisodia’s wife expressing her regrets and sending well wishes due to her ailing health preventing her attendance.
Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Singh were arrested in the excise policy case, while Jain was arrested in a separate money laundering case.
Weeks before the ED took Kejriwal in custody, it arrested Hemant Soren on January 31 in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam in Jharkhand. Shortly before his arrest, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Soren resigned as chief minister.
At the INDIA bloc rally, his wife Kalpana Soren said the people gathered there were against the autocratic forces that are attacking democracy.
“We the tribals have a long story of struggle and sacrifices. We are proud of our history,” she said.
“The NDA government is destroying all the guarantees provided by Babasaheb’s Constitution. One by one they have demolished constitutional agencies. As unemployment and inflation rise, communal disharmony is being spread…,” she said.
“Some parties may think of themselves as having absolute power, but people have the real power. Use your finger to vote for the INDIA bloc in the polls. If you want to save your country, democracy, use your vote wisely,” she said.
Kalpana made her first major public appearance on March 4, the JMM foundation day, when she made an emotional speech on her husband’s arrest and pledged to continue the struggle. She hails from the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha and has a Master’s in Engineering and an MBA degree.
