Arvind Kejriwal’s tryst with Ramlila Maidan is set to continue. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief who had resigned as the Delhi chief minister on February 14, 2014, is set to take oath as the chief minister again on Valentine’s Day this Saturday.
Kejriwal is likely to be part of a road show from Kaushambi in Ghaziabad to Ramlila Grounds on Saturday, the platform that had launched him during the days of India Against Corruption movement.
According to sources, soon after the poll trends started appearing, officials from Delhi government contacted Arvind Kejriwal to know when the oath-taking ceremony should be held.
Sources said that due to the India-Pakistan match on February 15, the oath-taking ceremony has been organised on February 14.
Officials said security arrangements were also being put in place in case Kejriwal wanted to make an impromptu visit to Rajghat, as he had done last time.
At around 4.30pm on Tuesday, the Delhi government held a meeting of its top officials to decide on the preparation for Kejriwal’s swearingin event. Chief secretary of Delhi government DM Spolia is likely to inspect Ramlila Maidan, along with senior officials, to take a stock of the situation.
“Apart from sitting MLAs, Delhi government secretaries, high court judges, chief justice of the Delhi high court, judges of district courts, head of various departments and a number of former chief ministers will be invited to the event,” said a senior Delhi government official.
Another official said, “We are expecting a huge turnout and accordingly seating arrangements is being made for guests. LED screens will be installed across the ground to ensure everyone gets to see the oath taking ceremony.
Sources said that the General Administration Department is responsible for making the overall arrangements and sending out invitations.
Sources also stated that Kejriwal was likely to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hi swearing-in.
“PM Modi called up Kejriwal to congratulate him on his victory. During the conversation, Kejriwal said there were a few pressing issues that he needed to discuss with the PM. He said he will carry the invitation personally when he meets him,” a source said.
Modi in response is said to have stated: “Aaiye aapko chai pilayenge (Come we will have tea together).”
While the Public Works Department will be responsible for putting up barricades, providing water and toilet facilities, the north corporation will be responsible for cleaning and sprucing up the area and removing the garbage.
Unlike 2013, when more than 400 media persons were present at the ground to cover the event, the Delhi government this time expects a larger media contingent and hence would be creating more room for the media.
Sources said as a number of AAP MLAs are likely to use the public transport, security arrangements would be beefed up at the Delhi Metro too.
In a historic verdict, the AAP won as many as 67 seats in the 70-member Delhi House on Tuesday, going far beyond the most optimistic exit polls and its own wildest expectations, while the BJP was left bruised in a distant second place with just three seats. The Congress, reeling from a string of defeats since it was routed in the Lok Sabha polls, drew an ignominious blank.
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