Political Parallels: How Kejriwal and Imran Khan Lost Their Revolutions

Over the past decade, Arvind Kejriwal and Imran Khan have shaken up Indian and Pakistani politics, challenging traditional elites with promises of corruption-free governance. Both emerged as outsiders—Kejriwal through the 2011 anti-corruption movement and Imran Khan with his call for “Naya Pakistan.” Initially backed by powerful institutions—RSS in India and the military in Pakistan—both later faced political isolation. In this episode of Unraveled, Marvi Sirmed and senior journalist Rohinee Singh break down their political journeys, the role of institutional backers, and whether either can make a comeback. Singh explains why Imran became Prime Minister while Kejriwal remained confined to Delhi and Punjab, and what ultimately led to their fall from favor.