Veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare -- whose 2011 India Against Corruption (IAC) movement led to the formation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012 -- said on Saturday that his erstwhile protégé Arvind Kejriwal’s desire for money and power led to his personal as well as his party AAP’s defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls.

“…jaise karni, waisi bharni,” Hazare said, as he summed up the reason for the debacle of Kejriwal and his party in the Delhi Assembly polls which saw the BJP trounce AAP decisively and return to power in the National Capital Territory of Delhi after a gap of 26 years.

Kejriwal lost to the BJP's Parvesh Verma by a margin of 4,089 votes in the Delhi Assembly polls, while the BJP romped home in the poll by winning 48 seats as against  22 seats won by the AAP.

Talking to media persons in home village of Ralegan Siddhi in Ailyanagar district of Maharashtra, Hazare said: "I have always believed and said that a candidate's conduct, thoughts should be pure, life should be without a blame, and sacrifice should be there….I told this (to Arvind Kejriwal) but he did not pay heed, and finally, he focused on liquor... Why did this issue come up? He was overwhelmed by money power".

It may be recalled that Kejriwal was one of the key leaders of the 2011 IAC movement spearheaded by Hazare. The AAP came into being on November 26, 2012, following differences between Kejriwal and Hazare over the IAC taking the shape of a political party. The Gandhian, who was opposed to IAC becoming a political entity, later distanced himself from Kejriwal and AAP. 

“At that time, I made it clear to Kejriwal that I would not be a part of the political party floated by him. I have remained away from his political party since then. I have not even spoken to him since then,” the anti-corruption crusader said.   

"In politics, allegations are made…  One has to prove that he or she is not guilty… But these people got entangled in liquor and money scandals, which tarnished Arvind Kejriwal’s image. That is the reason for these people getting fewer votes in this election,” Hazare said.