Arvind Kejriwal skips vote, hops back, misses it

Arvind Kejriwal's tall words on high accountability in public life didn't quite match his actions on Tuesday. He left his home in Kaushambi for the airport without casting his vote until media pressure forced a rethink. HT reports. Practise what you preach: poll | Kejriwal tries to skip voting

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal's tall words on high accountability in public life didn't quite match his actions on Tuesday.

Kejriwal left his home in Kaushambi, part of the Sahibabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh, for the airport without casting his vote until media pressure forced a rethink.

Asked outside his home in the morning why he wasn't voting, Kejriwal said he would miss his Goa flight and drove off.

As his comment made TV headlines, he came back and headed for the polling booth - only to find he wasn't on the voters' list.

"I was feeling guilty for not voting, so returned. It was a mistake that our programme in Goa clashed with the polls," he said.

"I have always voted and possess a voter's card," Kejriwal said as a crowd gathered and shouted slogans against him.

Local vendors threatened him with police action if he failed to disperse the gathering. Later, police arrived and restored order.