Date: February 10, 2025
Babu vs. Kejriwal Arrest: A Shocking Case Study on Political Fallout
How Arrests Shaped the Political Careers of Chandrababu Naidu and Arvind Kejriwal
In Indian politics, there’s a well-known belief that a political leader’s like Kejriwal arrest often boosts their chances of becoming the Chief Minister in the next term. This theory was proven in the cases of Jagan Mohan Reddy and Revanth Reddy. However, recent events surrounding Chandrababu Naidu and Arvind Kejriwal present a fascinating contrast.
Both leaders were arrested and released six months before elections, yet their political trajectories took completely opposite turns. While Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest led to a historic victory, Kejriwal’s arrest resulted in a shocking electoral defeat.
Chandrababu Naidu’s Arrest: A Catalyst for a Political Comeback
Chandrababu Naidu was arrested in the alleged skill scam case under the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Andhra Pradesh government. The TDP chief’s arrest was widely seen as a politically motivated move aimed at weakening his party’s morale. However, this strategy backfired spectacularly.
Rather than breaking TDP’s support base, Naidu’s arrest fueled massive public sympathy. In the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections, Naidu led the NDA alliance to an overwhelming victory, securing a 93% strike rate.
The public mandate was clear—voters rejected Jagan Reddy’s political strategy and gave an unprecedented electoral win to Naidu. Jagan Reddy’s downfall was so severe that he couldn’t even secure the status of Leader of Opposition.
Kejriwal Arrest: A Political Miscalculation
In an almost identical timeline, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in the Delhi liquor scam case. Like Naidu, Kejriwal was also released before the elections, hoping that the sympathy wave would propel AAP to another victory.
Kejriwal and AAP framed the election campaign around his arrest and release, portraying it as a political conspiracy. However, the strategy failed miserably. Instead of gaining public support, AAP suffered a devastating defeat.
The biggest shock came when Kejriwal himself lost from the New Delhi constituency, marking a massive political setback. The Delhi liquor scam had a far more damaging impact on Kejriwal’s reputation, leading to a significant loss of trust among voters.