Story Behind Arvind Kejriwal's Car

Meet The Man Who Owns Arvind Kejriwal’s Car!

Unless you are a petrolhead and a hardcore auto enthusiast, a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is the last car you would be talking about with passion and interest. Known for its absolute middle-classiness and unglamorous looks, the Wagon R has nothing much to tout – apart from its affordability and fuel efficiency – a prime factor on the basis of which most car purchases in India are made.

Of late however, a 2005 model, second-hand, Delhi registered Blue Wagon R has been  the cynosure of the media eye. The vehicle, as you might have guessed by now is the one in which Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal commutes to and from work, goes for protest meets – and occasionally even sleeps in.

Arvind Kejriwal doesn’t own the Wagon R
No – he doesn’t. A recent report by Hindi News Channel Aaj Tak has revealed that the Wagon R being used by the Delhi CM was actually donated by an individual named Kundan Sharma in January 2013 – to the then newly formed Aam Aadmi Party. Kundan, who was a part of the India Against Corruption movement used to support the movement from his base in London where he was working. He volunteered to help the IAC’s social media wing and went on to support the decision of the IAC movement to form a political party. In 2012,the newly formed Aam Aadmi Party was in need of voluntary donations to sustain itself – which is when Kundan thought of this idea to donate his Wagon R which was lying unused in India, to the AAP.

Kundan Sharma: The owner of the Delhi Chief Minister’s Official Car!

Image: Aaj Tak

 

The car was registered in his Wife’s name Sharadha. After some thinking, the decision to donate the car to AAP was finalized. He sent an email to both Arvind Kejriwal and Dilip Pandey informing them about his intentions. After some deliberations, the deal was finalized.

On the morning of January 1, 2013, a driver was sent to Kundan’s home in Dwaraka from where the car was picked up and taken to the AAP Headquarters. AAP had prior to this agreed to bear complete responsibility of the car. A letter was also drafted whereby the owner of the car confirmed that they do not have anything to do with the car henceforth.

 

 The Letter of Consent.
Image: Aaj Tak

The car now belonged to the AAP.

Even until this point, Kundan had no idea that the car would be used by Kejriwal himself. Soon the donated car was forgotten. A year later, when Kejriwal started campaigning for the Delhi elections, Kundan’s daughter identified the Wagon R as their own when it was being shown on a News channel! That was when Kundan realized that his donation was actually being used by none other than Kejriwal himself!

Kundan would later come back to India just prior to the elections, voted and has joined the Royal Bank of Scotland. He continues to be a volunteer for the AAP and is yet to meet Kejriwal in person!

Interesting story, eh?