New Delhi:
Exactly one year after he quit over Janlokpal issue, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal will take oath on Saturday at the historic Ramlila Ground as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi, after leading AAP to a stupendous victory in the assembly polls trouncing BJP.
Kejriwal’s close confidant Manish Sisodia is likely to be sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister and another AAP leader Satyendra Jain may also make it for the second time. All others are first time MLAs -Jitendra Tomar, Gopal Rai, Sandeep Kumar and Asim Ahmed Khan- who are tipped to be part of the Kejriwal cabinet.
Shahdara MLA Ramniwas Goel could be the Speaker of the Assembly while Bandana Kumari, from Shalimar Bag constituency, will be Deputy Speaker, AAP sources said.
46-year-old Kejriwal, in a radio message, has already invited people of Delhi to his swearing in ceremony at the Ramlila ground—the protest venue of the anti-graft campaign over three years ago.
North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), which had started preparations for the oath ceremony two days back, today gave final touches to the arrangements at the venue in Central Delhi.
The municipal officials said preparations for the event were near complete.
Around 1,200 Delhi Police personnel will keep a tight vigil at the venue where a large crowd is expected to gather.
The Security Wing will secure the stage where Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Kejriwal and five other Ministers.
Kejriwal is expected to unveil his priorities for the government after taking oath.
He has already asked Chief Secretary D M Spolia to start work on a roadmap to implement AAP’s 70-point election manifesto.
Kejriwal to travel by car for swearing-in ceremony
Delhi’s chief ministerial designate Arvind Kejriwal will travel by car, accompanied by his family, to the venue of swearing-in ceremony at Ramlila Maidan, party sources said today.
Unlike last time, he will not be taking the Metro, a move that had drawn a lot of criticism from the people.
A party member, involved in preparations related to the ceremony at his residence in Kaushambi here, said that since Kejriwal is down with fever, he has decided to go by car.
“He is not well today and may not be well enough to ride in Metro on Saturday. So he would take road route Saturday,” the AAP member said.
“He (Kejriwal) may leave home around 10.30 am from home along with his family. Traffic police would be escorting him via Barakhambha road,” a police official said, adding that he would be accorded “CM route protocol”.
Like last time, Kejriwal will also visit Rajghat and pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi.
“After taking oath at Ramlila Maidan, Kejriwal has also planned to pay a visit at Rajghat. Kejriwal, after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhiji, is slated to go to secretariat,” the official said, adding that he could also meet the common people enroute, “if his health permits”.
