Arvind Kejriwal stakes claim to form govt, oath taking ceremony at 10 am on Sunday; AAP likely not to invite other leaders, politicians

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday, staking claim to form the government in the National Capital, sources said, while hinting that the AAP might not invite senior leaders and chief ministers of other parties for the oath-taking ceremony. The sources said it was the formal process by the AAP chief, who was elected as the legislature party leader earlier in the day, to stake claim for forming the new government. [caption id=“attachment_8031001” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Arvind Kejriwal. Getty Images[/caption] Kejriwal, who returned to power in Delhi with a stunning poll victory on Tuesday, will take oath as chief minister for the third consecutive time on 16 February.

While the oath-taking ceremony will be open to the public, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was considering not inviting leaders and chief ministers of other parties as it did not wish to be seen as a “confrontationist” against the BJP-led Centre, the sources said.

They, however, added that the party was yet to take a decision on it. The oath-taking ceremony will take place at the Ramlila Maidan here. The AAP has planned mobilisation of people for the mega event and all the newly-elected MLAs of the party have been asked to ensure huge participation from their constituencies. “I request the people of Delhi to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the chief minister at the Ramlila Maidan in large numbers,” senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia told reporters, adding that the ceremony will start at 10 am. The AAP won 62 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged the remaining eight seats. The Congress drew a blank for the second consecutive time in the Delhi polls.