Arvind Kejriwal will be taking oath at Delhi’s historic Ramlila Maidan. (Photo Credit: File Photo-PTI)
New Delhi:
Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal is all set to take oath as chief minister for the third successive term on Sunday. With AAP scripting its third consecutive win in the Delhi assembly elections, excitement was palpable among party workers and senior leaders alike, all of whom were expecting a huge crowd at the event. Workers were on Saturday giving a fresh paint job to the white ceremonial platform at the Ramlila Maidan, and the area around it was being decked up with potted plants and flowers.
A large contingent of security personnel was given briefing by Delhi Police authorities at the Maidan.
Officials said 2,000 to 3,000 security personnel from the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, including the CRPF, were being deployed for the ceremony which is scheduled to begin at 10 am. Drones were likely to be used for aerial surveillance.
Arvind Kejriwal will be taking oath at Delhi’s historic Ramlila Maidan. Big banners bearing messages like ‘Dhanyawad Dilli’ along with Kejriwal’s image were put up in and around the venue. While the event is “open to public”, there won’t be usual gathering of political heavyweights.
The AAP supremo had on Thursday extended invitation to Delhiites to attend his oath-taking ceremony to “bless their son”. Advertisements were also issued in leading dailies.
“Delhiites, your son is going to take oath of Delhi chief minister for the third time. You must come to bless your son. Sunday, February 16, 10 am, Ramlila Maidan,” Kejriwal, 51, had tweeted in Hindi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to the ceremony, besides BJP MPs and MLAs from Delhi. The AAP had said no chief minister or political leader from other states will be part of the event as it will be a “Delhi-specific” ceremony.
Around 50 people from different walks of life who are ‘Delhi ke Nirmata’ and contributed to the development of the city during the last five years will share the stage with Kejriwal during his ceremony as special guests, AAP leader Manish Sisodia said.
Those invited include international tennis player Sumit Nagal, Delhi government school student and beneficiary of Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana who cracked IIT Vijay Kumar, mohalla clinic doctor Alka, bike ambulance service officer Yudhishtir Rathee, night shelter caretaker Shabina Naaz, bus marshall Arun Kumar, Signature bridge architect Ratan Jamshed Batliboi and metro pilot Nidhi Gupta.
“Baby Mufflerman” Aavyan Tomar, who stole the hearts when he dressed up as the AAP convenor on counting day, is a ‘special invitee’ at the ceremony.
Traffic regulations will be in place in the area from 8 am to 2 pm, officials said. Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said as this is an event open for public. “We are expecting a good number of people to turn up tomorrow,”
