Arvind Kejriwal invites all of Delhi to swearing-in
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Reuters
Indian anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal, who won a landslide victory in the Delhi state elections, has invited all of Delhi to his swearing in ceremony on Saturday.
The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be sworn in as the chief minister at the sprawling Ramlila grounds, and not in the assembly as is tradition.
The AAP won 67 of 70 assembly seats.
The results came as a huge setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose BJP won the other three seats.
Mr Modi led the BJP to victory in last May's general election.
He has enjoyed huge popularity since taking office, winning a string of local elections and wooing international investors and world leaders.
In a message broadcast on FM radio channels, Mr Kejriwal invited everyone to come to Saturday's ceremony at Ramlila Maidan - a huge ground in Delhi often used for political rallies and religious congregations.
"I'm not the chief minister, you are all Delhi's chief minister," he said.
He was sworn in at the same place when AAP made a spectacular debut in the 2013 elections, although he resigned as chief minister after 49 days in office over an ant-corruption bill.
The AAP has invited the prime minister, federal ministers and all MPs from Delhi to the swearing-in.
Who is Arvind Kejriwal?
- A former tax inspector, he left the civil service in 2006 to fight corruption and won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay award
- Launched the Aam Aadmi Party in Oct 2012 to fight "bribe-taking"
- Became Delhi's chief minister in 2013 state election, but quit after 49 days
- Bounced back in 2015 with campaign popular with Delhi's working class
- His election symbol was a broom to signify cleansing society
Mr Kejriwal's party colleagues say the AAP leader is due to meet Mr Modi on Thursday where he is expected to formally invite the prime minister to his swearing in ceremony.
Mr Modi has congratulated Mr Kejriwal and assured him of his government's "complete support in the development of Delhi".
It is not clear whether any ministers belonging to the AAP will be also sworn in on Saturday.
The AAP was born out of a strong anti-corruption movement that swept India three years ago.
The party was routed by the BJP in last May's general elections, months after its spectacular debut in the 2013 Delhi elections.
