Tens of thousands packed the sprawling Ramlila Maidan where AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal took oath on Saturday as Delhi's chief minister for a second time in 14 months.
It was only the second swearing in of a Delhi CM to be held in the open. Kejriwal's first swearing-in ceremony in 2013 was also held in the open.
Families of senior AAP members, including Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, attended the ceremony.
Cheering Aam Aadmi Party supporters started flocking to the ground in the heart of the capital right from the morning, and excitement ran high whenever a prominent party leader was spotted.
While most AAP activists and supporters were from Delhi, large numbers also came from other states, particularly neighbouring Haryana.
Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel deployed at the venue, which had a fresh look, had a tough time as the crowds began to swell just after 9am.
Many in the gathering waved the Indian tricolour and others the AAP flag. Many held large photographs of Kejriwal, who led the AAP to a thumping win in the Delhi assembly election, sweeping 67 of the 70 seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party was left hanging with just three seats. The Congress, which had ruled Delhi for 15 long years until the December 2013 election that brought the AAP to power for the first time, was wiped out.
"This is a victory of the people," said AAP leader Dilip Pandey. "We were in a bad shape after the Lok Sabha election and we knew we had to stand up again. We were determined."
Kejriwal's earlier government, backed by the Congress, collapsed in just 49 days when he resigned. The AAP could not win any of the seven Lok Sabha seats last year.
Six ministers — Manish Sisodia, Satyendra Jain, Gopal Rai, Asim Mohammad Khan, Sandeep Kumar and Jitendra Singh Tomar — were also sworn in.
BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, who lost the election, earlier tweeted: "Today is the day of celebration and reflection. When both the processes are done with true responsibility and commitment, India is the real winner."
Earlier, hundreds of people gathered outside Kejriwal's Girnar Tower apartment complex at Kaushambi in nearby Ghaziabad raising slogans hailing the new Delhi chief minister and the AAP.
Besides Sisodia, party leaders Sanjay Singh, Ashish Khaitan and Kumar Vishwas reached there in the morning.
Many danced on the streets to drum beats. The police had a tough time controlling the crowd.
Look forward to having constructive cooperation with Centre, says Kejriwal
New Delhi, Feb. 14 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said his party would like to have constructive cooperation with the central government to make the capital city a great place to live in.
"We want to work together with the central government, we want constructive co-operation to make Delhi a great place to live in," Kejriwal said in a speech after his swearing-in ceremony.
He also assured the people of Delhi that he would be everyone's chief minister, regardless of whether they had voted for him or not.
"I am your CM even if you didn't vote for us. Even those three seats where we didn't win, this is the Aam Aadmi Government, whether you voted for us or not," said Kejriwal.
He also said that he alone was not the chief minister, but all the people of Delhi were chief ministers in their own right, and therefore all had a responsibility to make the city of Delhi a better place to live in.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal, 46, took oath as the eighth chief minister of Delhi, becoming the youngest chief minister of the national capital.
He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung at the sprawling Ramlila ground here.
Six other Aam Aadmi Party leaders - Manish Sisodia, Asim Ahmed Khan, Sandeep Kumar, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai and Jitender Singh Tomar were also sworn-in as ministers.
Will make Delhi corruption-free in five years
NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday vowed to make Delhi corruption free in the five years of AAP's rule.
Speaking to tens and thousands of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters at the Ramlila Maidan where he along with six others were sworn in, Kejriwal said: "I remember, during Anna (Hazare) agitation we asked for a corruption-free India. Even our opposition agreed that during our 49 days rule, we were able to end corruption in Delhi.
"Now, we are much more confident. We will make Delhi India's first corruption free state," Kejriwal said to thunderous applause.
Earlier, Kejriwal and six ministers - Manish Sisodia, Asim Mohammad Khan, Satyendra Jain, Gopal Rai, Sandeep Kumar and Jitendra Singh Tomar - were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Delhi's lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung at the Ramlila Maidan.
Unlike 2013, Kejriwal did not stop by at Rajghat on his way to the secretariat after the ceremony. He said that he was not keeping well.
Kejriwal meets Modi
Earlier Kejriwal and his close aide Manish Sisodia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.
Television reports said that the prime minister and Kejriwal shared pleasantries and had a hearty discussion on how this was a great opportunity for the Centre and state to work in unison for the progress of Delhi.
After Kejriwal’s stunning victory in the Delhi assembly elections, the prime minister congratulated him and invited him for a 'chai pe charcha'.
Agency reports say that Kejriwal emphasised that he is seeking the Centre's support to run the capital and also reportedly brought up the issue of full statehood for Delhi at his meeting with PM Modi.
Modi has already assured Kejriwal of the Centre’s support to the new Delhi government.
Kejriwal will take the oath of office at 12 pm on Saturday. There will be no road show, reports suggested.
However, Modi will be unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal to be held at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on February 14 owing to a prior engagement in Mumbai, reports said.
Along with Kejriwal, AAP's Manish Sisodia, Satyendra Jain, Adarsh Shastri, Jitender Tomar, Kapil Mishra, Sandeep Kumar and Asim Ahmed Khan are likely to be inducted into the Delhi Cabinet.
Agency reports said that AAP leaders like Somnath Bharti, Rakhi Birla, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Girish Soni might miss out on ministerial posts.
TV reports also suggested that Manish Sisodia is likely to be the next deputy chief minister of Delhi.
