Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will take oath at the historic Ramlila Ground as the 8th Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday. Caption: Arvind Kejriwal, along with his wife, after Aam Aadmi Party’s historic win in Delhi Assembly elections 2015, at the party office in New Delhi. (Express photo by Prem Nath Pandey)
Capping a momentous journey, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal today took oath as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi, promising to make Delhi the first corruption-free state and act against communal elements.
Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administered the oath of office and secrecy to Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and five other ministers at the historic Ramlila Maidan here, exactly an year after Kejriwal quit after a short 49-days regime.
Asim Ahmed Khan, Sandeep Kumar, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai and Jitender Singh Tomar also took oath of office and secrecy at the ceremony as a large crowd cheered.
Immediately, after taking oath, the 46-year-old leader addressed the gathering and unveiled the priorities of his government which included steps against corruption, communal elements, VIP culture and assured Delhiites that his government will fight for full statehood for the national capital.
Warning his party leaders and workers against arrogance, he said this was the reason for the defeat of Congress and the BJP, which had received huge majority in Lok Sabha polls just nine months ago.
Terming the verdict as ‘miracle of God’, Kejriwal said, “I knew people of Delhi love me, but didn’t know they love me so much.”
The AAP had won 67 of the 70 seats in Delhi decimating Congress and leaving only three seats for the BJP.
Assuring people that his government will make Delhi “India’s first corruption-free state”, he said if somebody asks for bribe don’t refuse ‘setting ker lena’ (fix the deal) and video record it. Send the video footage to me. I will take action.”
Arvind Kejriwal swearing-in ceremony at Delhi’s Ramlila Ground: Highlights
1.30 PM: Arvind Kejriwal takes charge as the CM of Delhi
1.10 PM: Delhi cabinet greet the crowd at Ram Leela Maidaan after taking oath
1.05 PM: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal ends speech with ‘Bharat Maaa Ki Jai’, Inquilab Jindabad’ and ‘Vande Mataram’.
1 PM: I wish Team India well: Kejriwal
1 PM: I am sure India will win the Cricket World Cup: Kejriwal
12.57 PM: Today I didn’t take oath as Delhi CM, you all have taken the oath… You all are the CMs of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal
12. 55 PM: Kejriwal requests media people to not make fun of our intentions
12.55 PM: Time has come to grant full statehood to Delhi, says Kejriwal
12.52 PM: Traders will not be harassed, says Delhi CM
12.50 PM: Will end VIP culture in Delhi
12.46 PM: I have learnt one thing in 49 days, there is no dearth of money in Govt, there is lack of intention, says Arvind Kejriwal
12.45 PM: Will make Delhi 1st corruption-free city
12.45 PM: AAP govt will end end corruptions in Delhi, says Delhi CM
12.45 PM: God has a plan and we are only messengers, says Kejriwal
12.45 PM: We can’t afford to be arrogant, says Delhi CM
12.42 PM: We didn’t know Delhi loved AAP so much, says Kejriwal
12.40 PM: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses public, says Rich and poor, Hindus, Muslims and Christians voted for Aam Aadmi Party
12.35 pm: Jitender Tomar, AAP MLA from Trinagar, takes oath; Tomar has joined AAP from Congress in 2013
12.30 PM: Gopal Rai, AAP MLA from Babarpur, takes oath
12.28 PM: Satinder Jain, AAP MLA from Shakoor Basti, takes oath
12.24 PM: Sandeep Kumar, AAP MLA from Sultanpur, takes oath
12.22 PM: Asim Ahmed, AAP MLA from Mataia Mahal, takes oath
12.20 PM: Manish Sisodia, AAP MLA from Patparganj, takes oath
12.15 PM: Arvind Kejriwal takes oath as 8th CM of Delhi
12.10 PM: Swearing-in ceremony begins
12 noon: Around 1 lakh people seen congregating at the Ramlila Maidan for Kejriwal’s oath taking
Take a poll: Rate Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s speech
Take Our Poll
11.50 am: Arvind Kejriwal accompanied by Manish Sisodia reaches Ramlila ground for the swearing-in ceremony
11.40 am: The swearing-in ceremony to be held on schedule at 12 noon
11.20 am: Arvind Kejriwal will sworn in as Delhi’s new chief minister along with six ministers. The Delhi Cabinet will have an average age less of than 40.
11.10: Tens of thousands of people gather at the Ramlila Maidan waving Indian national flags. Kejriwal has invited supporters to the oath-taking ceremony in his radio address on Friday
11.05 am: Arvind Kejriwal will not go to Rajghat after searing-in ceremony, as initially planned, as he is no well. Instead, he will go to Delhi Secretariat.
11.00 am: Kejriwal expected to leave his residence in Kaushambi by 11.10 am. He will travel to Ramlila Maidan by car and not take the Metro like he did last time
10.15 am: Arvind Kejriwal to chair the Delhi government’s first cabinet meeting at 4.30 pm.
10.05 am: Arvind Kejriwal will visit Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat after swearing-in. He will then head to the Delhi Secretariat to officially take charge
10.00 om: Aam Aadmi Party tweets: All set for the day at Ramlila ground
All set for the day at Ramlila ground. pic.twitter.com/l70vL8GYVx
— Aam Aadmi Party (@AamAadmiParty) February 14, 2015
9.30 am: Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia tweets ahead of swearing-in ceremony:
काश आज मां और पिता जी भी यहीं साथ होते! मैं जानता हूं स्थूल रूप में नहीं पर सूक्ष्म रूप में आप मेरे साथ हैं। हर पल!
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 14, 2015
9.15 am: Anticipating a large crowd, Delhi Traffic Police advised commuters to avoid routes leading to Ramlila Maidan where AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will take oath as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi.
9.10 am: AAP has invited PM Narendra Modi, members of the Union Cabinet and opposition leaders Ajay Maken and Kiran Bedi for the oath-taking ceremony.
9.00am: A jubilant AAP is also waiting for the day with bated breath, and are expecting a huge crowd, with supporters pouring in to the venue.
The stage is all set for the swearing in ceremony. Hope all of you will join us at Ramlila ground at 11am. pic.twitter.com/VawcKcLaHc
— Aam Aadmi Party (@AamAadmiParty) February 14, 2015
A worker install a audio system as stage is set for AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s oath taking ceremony, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. (Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)
On Friday night, President Pranab Mukherjee had appointed Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister and six other party leaders as Cabinet ministers, four of whom are first time legislators, and signed an order to revoke Central rule from February 14.
A Home Ministry statement said President appointed Kejriwal as the Chief Minister of Delhi with effect from the date he is sworn in.
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. In his first term as Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal had quit after 49 days in office.
After the swearing-in, Arvind Kejriwal will head towards the Delhi Secretariat to officially take charge.
Even before AAP took over the reins of Delhi, Chief Secretary D M Spolia has started acting on poll promises made by the nascent party and directed authorities to immediately prepare a foolproof plan to provide free Wi-Fi across the city and to construct 20 new colleges.
AAP had made a host of promises in its manifesto like 24X7 “affordable” power supply, free Wi-Fi across the city, installation of at least 10 lakh CCTV cameras for women security, making water a legal right and slashing VAT significantly.
Policemen at the venue of the oath-taking ceremony of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. (PTI)
A jubilant AAP had been also waiting for the day with bated breath, and are expecting a huge crowd, with supporters pouring in to the venue.
“Our estimate is about 1.5 lakh people. Last time, it was a little over a lakh, but since the victory is much bigger, more people will pour in this time,” an AAP official, who had come to the venue to assess the preparations, said.