New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday took oath as Chief Minister of Delhi at Ramlila Maidan and thanked the people of the city for the mandate saying the national capital gave birth to a new kind of politics for building a 21st century India.
Kejriwal took the oath of office for the third time along with his Cabinet ministers from the previous term.
Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Rajendra Pal Gautam and Imran Hussain take oath as Cabinet ministers.
Lt. Governor Anil Baijal administered oath of office and secrecy to the AAP leaders.
A total of 50 people from diverse backgrounds were also invited to the swearing-in ceremony, they were called ‘Dilli Ke Nirmata’, for their contribution towards the development of Delhi.
Kejriwal, addressing the public for the first time after the oath ceremony and the second time since the AAP got a massive mandate of 62 of 70 seats here, also said that the AAP government wants to work with the Centre to develop Delhi into a world-class city.
Kejriwal, who has been striking an emotional note during the campaign for the Assembly polls, continued being ‘Delhi’s son’.
“Your son has taken the oath of office for the third time today. This is not my victory, this is your victory. In the last five years, we have tried to increase the pace of development in Delhi, and we will continue to do so in the next five years,” said the third-time Chief Minister.
He even said that people can tell their families in the native place that they “do not need to worry because your son is the Chief Minister now.”
Kejriwal reiterated that he is the Chief Minister of every person in Delhi irrespective of their affiliations to other political parties.
“I have never discriminated against them in the last five years. I have worked for everybody, and never discriminated against people who did not vote for me.”
He repeated the campaign line that the two crore people of Delhi are his family.
“You can come to me without any hesitation and I will complete all your work irrespective of your affiliation, caste and whether you are rich or poor.”
He asked people to join hands saying Delhi needs a lot of improvement.
“I cannot do it alone, I need your support in making Delhi the most developed and beautiful city in the world. I want to work together with everybody. It is obvious to have scuffles between various political parties during elections. We have forgiven our opposition for whatever remarks they made against us.”
He requested the opposition parties to forget what happened during the election.
“I want to work together with all the parties for the development of Delhi. I want to work together with the Central government to make Delhi a world-class city,” he said.
Kejriwal said that the people of Delhi have given birth to a new kind of politics in the country during the Delhi election, which is the politics of work and performance.
“This is the politics of schools, hospitals, 24-hour and cheap power supply, water, roads, women’s security, corruption-free Delhi, and politics of a 21st century India. This new politics is being discussed all over the country. Governments across the world have started constructing Mohalla clinics, schools, hospitals. State governments across the country have started providing free electricity. You are being talked about all across Delhi,” said Kejriwal.
Taking a jibe at the opposition for attacking him for freebies, Kejriwal said everything precious in the world is free, including a “mother’s love”.
“Do I start charging people for education and health? Do I start charging patients for their operations? That is not possible.”
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