The Uber Aam Aadmi of Uruguay

It is not that Arvind Kejriwal lacks Indian (political) idols whom he can emulate if and when he becomes the Chief Aam Aadmi of Delhi. If not the patrician simplicity of Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik or the comradely one of Tripura CM Manik Sarkar, there is also West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee who has turfed somnolent government staff out their colonial era digs at Writers Buildings to a spartan high-rise across the Hooghly, as part of her relentless battles for Ma Maati Manush. However, having spurned police overtures for ‘X-class security’ and voiced opposition to all VIP trappings — even though he has relented enough to ask DDA for land to build a party office just like others have — Kejriwal could actually be modelling himself after the maverick president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica.

Of course, ‘simple living, high thinking’ is tough for netas and as a self-proclaimed crorepati, Kejriwal cannot challenge Mujica’s position as the world’s “poorest” president. But the Uruguayan has doable examples to follow: turn his official residence into a hospital (one of the 500 AAP has demanded for Delhi), donate his salary to social projects, fly only coach, drive an old (and beaconless) car and set prices for commodities. However, Kejriwal is unlikely to consider Mujica’s most maverick action yet: legalising marijuana.