NEW DELHI: For Delhi, former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was not only a dominant politician but he was the longest-serving president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), an avid food lover and indeed a moderate face of Bharatiya Janata Party. A fun-loving gossiper and loyal to his friends, Jaitley led such a life that does not qualify the definition of a right-wing politician.
Jaitley graduated from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi (North Campus) in 1971. The college laid the foundation of his professional career. He also was the president of his college students' union.
Arun Jaitley was elected as President of the Delhi University Students' Union in 1974. He won the election to the post of the president of DU in an era where Congress Party had a solid hold over university campuses. His election as an ABVP candidate was a watershed moment of student politics in the country.
During the time of Emergency, Arun Jaitley raised his voice against the Indira Gandhi regime. On June 26, 1975, he organised the first protest against the Emergency and was arrested for 19 months in Tihar Jail.
For journalists, politicians, business people or lawyers, he was popular for the ability to make friends. Once he criticised Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury for blocking several government bills in the Rajya Sabha in the Modi 1.0 government, one could find them sharing a hearty laugh soon after in the Central Hall. Jaitley was often joked on by some of his cabinet colleagues as more friendly with the opposition than with the treasury bench. Very few would know, for the last one year or so, ever since he was keeping unwell, every time West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Delhi, she paid a visit to Jaitley to enquire about his health.
The famous morning walkers' durbar at Delhi's Lodhi Garden, a park spread across 15th-century tombs, is where journalists and his friends used to gather to chat with him. He would love to have this wide variety of meetings to stay at the top of the game. His habit continued till doctors asked him not to meet many people.
For the captains of the industry, Jaitley was almost one of them to the point that he risked being accused of siding with them because of his social proximity. They loved him back, of course. He knew their fears, hopes and aspirations. They believed his word, and the political Capital he commanded because of his equations with top leaders.
Amid many good things, Jaitley's life has also been surrounded by controversies. In 2012, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, which functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, launched an investigation and found several instances of alleged financial irregularities in the transactions of the DDCA between 2006 and 2012. These included misappropriation of funds, non-payment of taxes, not following the tendering route, hiring of tainted auditors and irregularities in the management of membership, ticketing and others.
Jaitley had a life with many shades but in the end when Indian politics is losing the voice of opposition then the demise of Arun Jaitely, the go-to man for all the oppositions, journalists and Delhiites would be an irreplaceable vacuum.