New Delhi: No minister or official in Delhi governement will use red beacon, decided Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on his first cabinet meeting. PM Manmohan Singh called up Arvind Kejriwal to extend best wishes and support as he undertakes new responsibilities.
Arvind Kejriwal, whose AAP has rewritten the grammar of politics in Delhi and may possibly do so elsewhere, on Saturday took oath as Delhi Chief Minister promising a corruption-free government and new style of governance without arrogance of power.
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45-year-old Kejriwal, a former revenue service official, who broke from Anna Hazare's campaign for Lokpal and scored a stunning debut in electoral politics winning 28 of the 70 seats, took the oath of office and secrecy at a public ceremony in the historic Ramlila Maidan, the fast venue of the anti-graft campaigners more than two years ago.
Along with Kejriwal, six others- Manish Sisodia, Girish Soni, Rakhi Birla, Satyendra Jain, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Somnath Bharti took oath as ministers administered by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
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Sporting his trademark Gandhi cap proclaiming that "I am an aam admi', Kejriwal wore a blue pullover over bush shirt and trousers discarding the traditional 'kurta-pyjama' of politicians. Hazare and his associate Kiran Bedi, who were invited to the function, kept away from it as did several political leaders including outgoing Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
BJP leader Harsh Vardhan, who would be the Leader of the Opposition in the new Assembly, was the lone prominent politician to be present. Kejriwal even praised him as an honest person. Shoiab Iqbal, JD(U) MLA, was also present. In a short speech after the formalities were over, Kejriwal said the Aam Admi Party has come with a promise to provide governance different from the one given by corrupt parties.
Heralding a new era of politics of governance, Arvind Kejriwal took over as the Chief Minister of Delhi promising a corruption-free government and appealed to parties including Congress and BJP to support his government. In a warning to his minsters and partymen, he said they should not get arrogant with power.
"We were born to remove the arrogance of big parties. We should be wary that no other party has to take birth to dismantle us". On the confidence motion on the floor of Delhi Assembly next week, he said his party was not bothered about its fate as "we are not here to grab power".
"Whether we pass or fail in the test of confidence motion...we are ready to face elections, if we fail. The people will vote us with a huge majority," he said to cheers from a huge crowd at the historic Ramlila Maidan, the fast venue of the campaign for Jan Lokpal Bill initiated by Anna Hazare more than two years ago.
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Earlier,Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and other AAP supporters took the train from Kausambi Metro station around 11 a.m.
Additional security personnel from CISF were deployed at the station. Uttar Pradesh Police personnel have also been deployed around Kausambi metro station.
Kejriwal had said on Friday that he will take the metro to Ramlila Maidan to take oath as the Delhi chief minister.
On Saturday, Kejriwal said that the AAP's fight is not over till the country is free of corruption.
"This fight is not about making Arvind Kejriwal the chief minister of Delhi, but it is start for another fight for independence. This fight will go on till this country is free of corruption and injustice. It is a historic day and a victory for the common man today," said Kejriwal.
"I think if all the people of this country join hands, then it can be freed of this deep rooted corruption," he said before taking a metro for his swearing in ceremony.
On being asked about his action plan post his swearing-in as the Chief Minister, he said, "We will start our work the moment our swearing in ceremony is finished,"
Kejriwal will become Delhi's youngest chief minister today at the age of 45, and will be accompanied by other MLA's of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
After the oath-taking ceremony, Kejriwal and AAP legislators will hold their first cabinet meeting. They are expected to work on Sunday as well.
He has been asked to prove his majority in the state assembly by January 3.
His first big challenge is grappling with a 10 per cent hike in CNG prices, announced on Thursday.
Auto drivers in the city, who form a huge section of his supporters, have threatened a strike.
