The United Kingdom-based NRI Kundan Sharma, who gave Arvind Kejriwal his blue WagonR when the Aam Aadmi Party was first formed in 2013, now wants it back.
The infamous blue WagonR, which was the Delhi CM’s loyal ride––beginning from the days of the dharnas (protests) to his first stint as chief minister in January 2014––was an invaluable resource for Kejriwal, helping him underline his ‘Aam Aadmi’ credentials.
The Upgrade
Though Kejriwal has now upgraded from his humbler vehicle to a Toyota Innova, the blue WagonR has not been forgotten. According to reports, Kejriwal had given the car to one of AAP’s MLA candidates during the Delhi Assembly elections earlier this year.
Upset with AAP Rift
Over the last few days, through a volley of tweets, Sharma, the software engineer––who is in Delhi at present––has let it be known that he is extremely upset with the rift in the party. Case in point: top leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan are currently out of favour with the party governance.
Not just the car, he has also insisted that the party return his motorcycle––that he had donated along with the car––as well as the money (in lakhs) which he and his wife had donated to AAP in 2013.
In an interview with a Hindi news channel he revealed that the blue car is registered in his wife Sharadha’s name.
The blue WagonR was a ubiquitous presence, synonymous with Kejriwal himself at a point of time and preyed upon by TV cameras as he campaigned for his first election and then became chief minister of Delhi in January 2014. The common man’s chief minister refused to accept a government vehicle and drove everywhere in the iconic car.
He had once even held a cabinet meeting in the car! And of course, the time that he slept next to where his car was parked, while protesting near the Railway Ministry, is the stuff of photographic legend.
AAP’s Response
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader Ashutosh spoke to The Quint and confirmed that Sharma’s claim to the car is legitimate and that if he has demanded for it to be returned, it will be returned.
Yes, he had lent his car to Kejriwal as at that point the Delhi CM didn’t have a ride and there is nothing wrong with him wanting it back.
– Ashutosh
While Kejriwal may not miss a ride in the blue WagonR as he has stepped up to a fancier set of wheels, parting with it will surely be no roller coaster ride. It’ll be especially hard, of course, if he ever needs his ‘Aam Aadmi’ credentials back.
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