Arvind Kejriwal: Delhi Sent Message Of Development Politics To Nation

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in as the chief minister of Delhi for a record third term. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at 12:10 PM at the Ram Lila Maidan in the national capital. A massive crowd thronged the oath-taking event. The large crowd included teachers, workers, students and party men.

Along with Kejriwal, his former cabinet colleagues, deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, and ministers, Kailash Gehlot, Rajendra Gautam, Gopal Rai, Imran Hussain, Satyendra Jain and also took the oath of office.

Kejriwal, in his victory speech after taking oath attributed the victory to every single citizen of the national capital. He remarked that the AAP government had focussed only on development and that it would do so for the next five years.

Delhi election results had given birth to a new kind of politics, Kejriwal said. This was built on good education, healthcare, employment, basic amenities and citizens thought and acted beyond region, caste and creed, he added.

The Delhi chief minister described himself as a son, brother and fellow-citizen of the voters. He said he was a chief minister of all the voters regardless of their political affiliations. He said he had forgiven all his political opponents for whatever happened during the elections.

Kejriwal sought the blessings of PM Modi and the Centre in taking Delhi forward. Development was the sole criterion and will remain so, Kejriwal added.

Arvind Kejriwal did not choose to make any changes to his 2015 cabinet. Imran Hussain is being seen as the Muslim face of the AAP cabinet.

Speculation was rife that Kejriwal might pick Amanatullah Khan of Okhla who won with a massive majority of over 70,000 and under whose constituency Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of anti-CAA protests falls. Kejriwal also chose not to induct any woman candidate though women voters played a key role in AAP victory.