Social activist Arvind Kejriwal will announce the formation of his political party tomorrow. The party, Kejriwal said on Monday, would take forward the fight against corruption which he led with Anna Hazare and others.
“After our struggle of two years (for the Lok Pal Bill), the political parties stand exposed. None of them would ever cooperate to bring into being a legislation on Jan Lok Pal. So, we are left with no option but to create a political alternative tomorrow,” he said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal met Hazare here, where the elderly activist was holding consultations with citizens to start a new anti-corruption movement.
Kejriwal clarified there was no fight between the two. “We have merely chosen different forms of struggle to achieve a common goal of a corruption-free India.”
Speaking to reporters after his 20-minute meeting with Hazare, Kejriwal said: "We told him that whenever needed, we are there to help you. He told us the media is creating an impression that there is a fight,"
Hazare had yesterday fired a salvo at the Kejriwal-led group, saying they had not responded to his questions on how to present a political alternative to the people in the fight against corruption and dubbed the path of politics as one "full of dirt".
The path of "politics is not sacred and it’s full of dirt" but the route of agitation is "sacred", Hazare had said.
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However, on Monday Hazare also played down differences with Kejriwal, saying he would support the activist if he contested elections and denied he mooted the idea of the forming a political party.
“I never said Arvind is bad. I will support Arvind if he contests. So far, I have not come across any shortcomings in him. He is working for the society. But at the same time, I am not going to support all candidates put up by Arvind. How do I know whom Arvind will select,” Hazare told a press conference after his meetings.