Delhi's Chief Minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal celebrates after the AAP's victory in the Delhi assembly elections (Associated Press photo)
Arvind Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party pulverised rivals yesterday in the Delhi election, has reached out to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he will invite for his oath ceremony as Delhi's chief minister on Saturday.
Here are the latest developments:
Mr Kejriwal has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister, where he is expected to extend the invitation. The meeting is likely to take place tomorrow at 10.30 am, sources said.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said today that all union cabinet ministers, the BJP's seven Delhi MPs and Kiran Bedi, who was fielded by the BJP against Mr Kejriwal for Delhi chief minister, will also be invited for the swearing-in ceremony at the Ramlila grounds.
A day after Delhi delivered a historic mandate in his favour, Mr Kejriwal is already at work. He met Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu at Delhi's Nirman Bhawan. The meeting is significant in view of AAP's election promise of housing for all in Delhi.
He also met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh where he reportedly discussed law and order in Delhi. Better security for Delhi's citizens, particularly women, is also a key AAP promise.
In a phone call with PM Modi yesterday, Mr Kejriwal had sought the Centre's support in running the Delhi government.
PM Modi had tweeted, "Spoke to @ArvindKejriwal & congratulated him on the win. Assured him Centre's complete support in the development of Delhi." He had also invited Mr Kejriwal for a 'chai pe charcha'.
Arvind Kejriwal's AAP and the BJP slugged it out in a high-pitched and often bitter campaign for Delhi. AAP has won 67 of the capital's 70 seats, reducing the BJP to spectator status with three seats. The Congress has zero.
Showered with petals by exultant workers, Mr Kejriwal had yesterday thanked them and said, "It's very scary - this show of support. We must guard against arrogance."
On Tuesday evening, he met Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and staked claim to form government, after being chosen as AAP's legislative party leader by the newly-elected MLAs.
Mr Kejriwal will take oath as chief minister exactly a year after he resigned from the post after 49 days in office. He will travel in a roadshow from his home in Ghaziabad to the Ramlila grounds to take oath.
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