Arvind Kejriwal waves to supporters at the AAP office in New Delhi after the win in the assembly elections (Associated Press photo)
New Delhi:
Arvind Kejriwal, who is running a high fever, wore a muffler and blue sweater as he arrived at the Ramlila ground, where he will take oath as chief minister of Delhi today. Thousands of supporters carrying India flags are filling the public park.
Here are the latest developments:
Arvind Kejriwal recited poetry in radio ads to invite Delhi's aam aadmi (common man) for his oath ceremony and organisers are prepared to seat 35,000 people. There is also standing space at the park, which can accommodate about 50,000 people.
Apart from Mr Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, who is set to be Deputy chief minister, AAP leaders Satyendra Jain, Jitendra Tomar, Gopal Rai, Sandeep Kumar and Asim Ahmed Khan will take oath as ministers today.
There are rows of empty chairs in the VIP enclosure at the Ramlila grounds, which AAP has emphasised was set up at the behest of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung's office for guests from the central government.
AAP has said none of the 67 legislators who starred this week in the party's historic victory in the Delhi elections would use the VIP enclosure.
The party is not sure how many of the leaders it has invited from the BJP and the Congress will turn up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend as he has prior engagements in Pune. AAP has also invited members of the Union Cabinet and opposition leaders like Ajay Maken and Kiran Bedi.
Around 3,000 security personnel are manning the venue. There are 50 CCTV cameras and 12 LCD screens.
Mr Kejriwal, his six colleagues who will take oath as ministers and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung will use a gate behind the stage to enter.
From the stage at the Ramlila ground, Mr Kejriwal is expected to share with Delhi his government's priorities after taking oath. He has already asked Chief Secretary DM Spolia to start work on a roadmap to implement AAP's 70-point election manifesto.
From Ramlila, Mr Kejriwal will head to the Delhi Secretariat to officially take charge and will chair the Delhi government's first cabinet meeting.
Mr Kejriwal had resigned as Delhi chief minister at the head of a minority government exactly a year ago after he was unable to push an anti-corruption bill. He had quit after 49 days in office.
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