Daytime Diwali at Arvind Kejriwal’s native village

BHIWANI: Siwani, a speck on the Indian map, is in the news, proud of its son Arvind Kejriwal — the giant killer who felled three-time Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit in the assembly polls.

Through the day, Kejriwal's family and supporters were glued to TV sets and celebrations began soon after news of AAP's stunning results spread. The bursting of crackers and drum beats got noisier and louder once the results for the New Delhi seat came. He had trounced Dikshit.

"Today is Diwali for us. Our leader - one among us, a common man - defeated a political heavyweight," a jubilant Manoj Karwasra, an AAP worker, said. "It's diwali at daytime, something I have never seen before," his friend said.

The villagers gathered near the Kejriwal home with drums and chanted slogans: "Kejriwal humara hai, jee jaan se bhe pyara hai, dikha diya hai Arvind main hai dum, ab sabse aagey rahenge hum."

Kejriwal's aunt Kusum said: "He started his fight against corruption from his 43rd birthday on August 16, 2011, from Ramleela ground. Because of his struggle, the world now knows the name of Siwani."