Red letter Day

Kejriwal team sworn in, new CM offers clean Govt

• Over one lakh witness ceremony at Ramlila Maidan
• Kejriwal and six ministers straightway assume charge
• Kejriwal says no red-beacon lights for ministers and babus
• Says if party loses trust vote on Jan 2, it will face re-poll
• Exhorts people to take a pledge “not to take and give bribes”

New Delhi: Storming to power within a year of launching his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Arvind Kejriwal took the oath as the seventh Delhi Chief Minister at the sprawling Ramlila Grounds in the capital on Saturday noon. It is the same place where he had launched his agitation against corruption with his mentor Anna Hazare in 2010.

In the presence of over a lakh of people, who gathered for the swearing-in, Kejriwal vowed to provide a clean regime. The crowds cheered the new Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues as Delhi Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung administered the oath of office and secrecy to Kejriwal and his six ministerial colleagues.

Kejriwal kept with him all the key portfolios of Home, Finance, Power and Vigilance. His Number Two, Manish Sisodia, was given PWD, Education and Urban Development. Rakhi Birla, the lone woman in the Cabinet, was given Women & Child Development and Social Welfare. Somnath Bharti was given Tourism, Law and Administrative Reforms. Sourav Bharadwaj was given Food and Civil Supplies, Transport and Environment. Girish Soni was given SC, ST and Employment. Satyendra Jain was given Health and Industry.

On day one, Kejriwal proceeded straight to his office along with six ministers and got down to work straightaway. He allotted portfolios and started work immediately by holding his first Cabinet meeting, where it was decided that no red-beacon lights for Ministers and bureaucrats. There will be no Personal Security Officer (PSO) and escorts provided to the officials.

Kejriwal, who took the oath in Hindi and in the name of God, delivered an emotional address to the gathering. He described the victory of AAP as nothing short of a miracle. Kejriwal said, “I appeal with folded hands to all of us – let us never become arrogant. I know that we have a huge responsibility today. Whether we succeed is not up to us, but we can ask God to guide us so we do not make mistakes. I admit we are scared because of the huge task ahead of us. I am sure if we will walk in the right path and we will never make any mistakes.

“Till now it was considered that India cannot be saved from corruption, but today the people of Delhi have shown that elections and politics can be done with honesty and integrity,” he said.

Once again, Kejriwal made it clear that he was not unduly worried about winning the Vote of Confidence, which he has to take by January 3.

“If we do not clear the trust vote, we will face re-election, the people will support us. We are going to join hands to fight for our country. We are not here to earn money or for power. We have left our career to leave our mark of clean governance. We are not worried if we pass or fail the Confidence Motion. Other parties are worried of it.”

If anyone asks for bribe, he advised the people to say no. Instead, he suggested that they should set it up and alert the government. “We will give you a phone number and we will catch the officer red-handed. Please take an oath with me. 'I will never take bribe, I will never give bribe,” he said.

We have worked together for many years.... I congratulate you for taking the oath of Chief Minister today. I also congratulate others taking oath with you today. The ultimate aim of politics is to serve ('seva')... To serve society, to serve the country, and 'seva' (service) means selfless service. Whatever one does in politics, do not think of the results and that is service and that is the worship of God - Anna Hazare

Highlights

After the ceremony, Kejriwal visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat to pay homage

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up Kejriwal and extended best wishes and support as he undertakes new responsibilities

• Earlier, Kejriwal took a metro from Kaushambi station around 11 to reach Barakhamba. From there, he reached the venue in a car.

• True to his Aam Aadmi Party’s anti-VIP culture, he turned down the ‘Z’ category security.

• Along with Kejriwal, six others --- Manish Sisodia, Girish Soni, Rakhi Birla, Satyendra Jain, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Somnath Bharti -- as ministers took the oath administered by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.

• No ministers and officials in Delhi Govt will use red beacon, as per decision of first meeting of the cabinet presided over by CM Arvind Kejriwal

• No PSO and escort vehicle to be provided to officials. Security to be allowed based on threat perception, new Cabinet decides

• Kejriwal is only the second Chief Minister to be an IITian after his Goa counterpart Manohar Parrikar and joins a select group of ministers like Ajit Singh and Jairam Ramesh whose alma mater is the crown jewel of the country's higher education.

• Assembly to meet from January 1 to 7, trust vote on Jan 2

• Ministers get new personal secretaries

He goes poetic

In his 20-minute speech, Kejriwal called the day very historic and formation of his government a victory of the aam aadmi (common man). He ended an impassioned speech at the Ramlila Maidan on Saturday by singing a Manna Dey song from the 1959 film Paighaam. Written by lyricist Pradeep, the song,"Insaan ka insaan se ho bhaichaara..." (let there be brotherhood among people) is a powerful comment on social unity and equality.

• Kejrwal has not become CM today or these people have not become ministers today. That was not our aim. It is 1.5 crore people of Delhi whose government has been formed today.

• We were born to remove the arrogance of big parties. We should be wary that no other party has to take birth to dismantle us

• We are not here to grab power. Whether we pass or fail in the test of confidence motion...We are ready to face elections, if we fail. The people will vote us with a huge majority

• Annaji used to say that politics is dirty, but to clear the muck one has to enter the muck.... If we want to clean the system, then we will have to enter into this 'dirty politics'

• I don't believe that all bureaucrats are corrupt.I will not hesitate in admitting that most officers are honest. It is also a challenge before the bureaucracy to deliver a corruption free regime

• If we walk the path of honesty, honesty will ultimately win. Nothing is impossible if we can come together