India’s anti-graft hero offers too much information

Indian state’s newly sworn-in chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweets about 'loose motions' as Delhi belly spoils first day on the job.

NEW DELHI // The Indian anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal swept to power last month on a promise of greater transparency and he began office on Monday true to his word – admitting that Delhi belly had spoiled his first day.

Mr Kejriwal, whose pledge to fight for India’s common man won over voters in Delhi state polls, had been set to start governing the capital on Monday after being sworn in as chief minister over the weekend.

But after weeks of rallies in a gruelling election campaign that pitted him against India’s two main political parties, Mr Kejriwal said he had fallen ill with diarrhoea and a severe fever and could not come in to the office.

“Running 102 fever since yesterday. Severe loose motions. Sad that I won’t be able to attend office today,” the former tax official tweeted.

“It was so imp to attend office today. We had planned the water announcement. God, bahut galat time par bimaar kiya [you’ve had me sick at a very wrong time].”

Mr Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi party was born out of an anti-corruption mass movement two years ago, has pledged to give free water to households in Delhi and slash their electricity bills.

He has more than 961,000 followers on Twitter and regularly tweets to share his views.

His latest comments were an instant hit on Twitter, with plenty of offers of sympathy – but also some suggestions for a little privacy.

“When the Chief Minister gives you minute by minute update on his bowel movements ... Hail democracy,” said a Congress party spokeswoman, Priyanka Chaturvedi.

“Will Arvind Kejriwal pass the motion? That is the question we are asking tonight,” said television editor Ritupana Chatterjee.

“Wow ur such a wonderful Aam Aadmi CM. talking publicly about loose motions. History is made!” said social worker Suryanarayan Ganesh.

Mr Kejriwal’s party also asked wellwishers and supporters in a tweet to stop flocking to his home, saying he needed to rest.

Aam Admi agreed to lead the Delhi government with outside support from the Congress party, which rules nationally but was pushed to a distant third place at the Delhi elections.

Mr Kejriwal’s stunning electoral debut at the December 4 polls jolted Congress and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party just months before a general election due by May.

* Agence France-Presse