Arvind Kejriwal to launch a new political party today

Days after his split with Anna Hazare, activist Arvind Kejriwal will formally join politics on Tuesday with the announcement of the launch of a political party.

The announcement of the new party is meant to coincide with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, said Manish Sisodia, a leader of the India Against Corruption (IAC) campaign and a close Kejriwal aide.

The launch event will take place at Constitution Club, New Delhi, on Tuesday.

The new party - the name is yet to be made public - would also have an internal Lokpal, a retired judge, whose name too would be revealed on Tuesday, Sisodia said. Kejriwal would also announce the names of members of his party.

Sisodia said that a symbol for the party would also be suggested at the launch event, though a decision on the issue rests with the Election Commission of India (ECI).

A statement from IAC on Monday declared: "Since last two years, millions came out on the streets against corruption, demanding Lokpal. But there was no result. None of the parties agreed. It cannot be expected from any party in India to make the country corruption free. The movement has now decided that we have to provide a political alternative. We will announce it tomorrow morning."

Kejriwal met Hazare in the capital on Monday for the first time since they split and said that although their paths now diverged, their destination was the same.

"Anna is in Delhi, so I naturally had to meet him. Our ways are different, but our destination is the same. I have told Anna that I will support him in all his movements," Kejriwal told reporters after the meeting.

He blamed the media for trying to project a rift between him and Hazare, and explained that Hazare would not join his political party.

"He has already said that he will not be part of it as he thinks politics is not the right direction," Kejriwal said.

Hazare arrived in Delhi on Sunday to meet activists and decide the future course of action in his campaign against corruption.

Hazare had parted ways with Kejriwal on September 19 over the issue of the launch of a new political party. He has also banned the use of his name or photograph by any political outfit.