A day after its stunning electoral debut, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal ’s house is buzzing with activity. Family members and friends drop in armed with good wishes, flowers, sweets and fruits. His phone rings incessantly. Kejriwal puts it aside to talk to TOI’s Himanshi Dhawan on AAP ’s performance, the way forward for the fledgling outfit, Sheila Dikshit and much else. Excerpts:

Q: You have been called a giant killer. How do you like this epithet?

A: I don’t like it. I don’t agree with this. This is not Arvind Kejriwal ’s battle. This is a struggle of the common man. Why did we get 28 seats? People are angry and they saw an opportunity. Umeed ki kiran jaagi hai. (The result is a ray of hope.) I want to appeal to all people to come together across the country and stand against this politics of corruption.

Q: Are you disappointed that you didn’t get a majority?

A: I wouldn’t say I am disappointed. It would have been better if we could have formed the government. But Rome was not built in a day. This is a start. Delhi has shown the way for the rest of the country.

Q: But people have voted for Arvind Kejriwal. By not forming the government are you not betraying their vote?

A: We don’t have the numbers. This is a fractured mandate. We will play the part of a constructive opposition. We are not after power. We will take whatever opportunity that comes our way. Hum imaandaari ki rajneeti mein vishwas rakhte hain, chahiye woh saatta mein ho ya bahar, imaandaari se sadak par bhi kaam karenge. (We are willing to work honestly anywhere, as the ruling party, as opposition, even as ordinary workers.)

Q: We are now looking at President’s rule. What will AAP do?

A: (Smiles) The Congress and BJP should come together and form a government. They anyway practice the same politics of corruption. Jod-tod ki rajneeti (wheeling-dealing) will begin…both parties can’t stay away from power for too long. Let’s wait and watch.

Q: Your former colleague Kiran Bedi has suggested that AAP and BJP should join hands to form the government…

A: I don’t agree with her at all. How can we support a party, or any party for that matter, that has refused to pass the Lokpal bill.

Q: BJP has won 32 seats. How can you say that it is a vote against corruption?

A: Both BJP and Congress have had no impact. BJP’s vote share has declined from the last election. This electoral verdict is against both BJP and Congress.

Q: Why did you stand against Sheila Dikshit? What point were you making?

A: Sheila Dikshit was the symbol of corruption and price rise. She had to be defeated. Someone had to defeat her and it wasn’t going to be BJP. BJP and Congress have an understanding and they have always fielded a weak candidate against her. Unki setting hai…so it had to be me. Also if I had to make a career in politics, I would have picked a safe seat. First become a MLA, then a MP, a union minister. But I am not in politics for office.

Q: Your candidates were approached before the election by rival parties...

A: Efforts were made but they proved unsuccessful.

Q: Are you afraid that your candidates will be poached now?

A: No, there is no fear of that. I am confident that will not happen. I can guarantee that no candidate will break away.

Q: The candidates you have chosen are very ordinary people as you have said yourself. What was the X factor that made them win?

A: They are all aam aadmi. We were mocked that our candidates have no political experience. But the result has shown aam aadmi ki taakat (the strength of the common people.) When ordinary people come together, they can upset the mighty.

Q: Do you feel if there is a re-election you will fare better?

A: I am confident that we will come back with a majority. The people’s hesitation has been broken. We are now recognized as a political force. Now people feel that their vote will not wasted. People voted for us because they wanted to see Congress defeated.

Q: Will AAP contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2014?

A: Corruption has to be removed from the whole country. We want to go to the rest of the country…but when and how many seats we contest will be decided by the party. The verdict just came yesterday. We have to sit together on this issue.

Q: Do you see yourself as PM candidate?

A: No, not all.

Q: How does your family feel about your electoral success? They were not very happy when you first told them about your decision to contest.

A: They are very happy. They realize that this is the only course to be taken to fight corruption.