New Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal
was today sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister along with six ministers
at the Ramlila Maidan.
Chief
Minister Arvind Kejriwal today pledged to make Delhi the country’s first
corruption-free city and urged his party colleagues never to be arrogant.
Kejriwal
warned party members against letting arrogance go to their head and said that
AAP faced disastrous results in Lok Sabha results because of this.
“We
became overambitious in Lok Sabha elections. And, that is why public taught a
lesson”, said Kejriwal.
This is
the second time that Arvind Kejriwal has taken charge of Delhi. He became chief
minister for the first time in December 2013 but resigned after just 49 days —
on the same day last year.
Kejriwal
said that he will put an end the VIP culture in Delhi. He added that in his 49
days of governance, he leant that there is no dearth of money in government but
what is missing was the lack of intention.
“For
full 5 years, I will be in Delhi and serve the people of Delhi”, said Kejriwal.
Addressing
thousands at the Ramlila Maidan after taking oath as chief minister, the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) leader pressed the need to make Delhi a full state.
In his
second stint as chief minister, the 46-year-old struck a pragmatic note, saying
he will periodically consult leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the
Congress on ways to develop Delhi.
The tens
of thousands packing the sprawling ground in the heart of the capital cheered
him when he first took the oath of office and secrecy, followed by six
ministers, and then addressed them.
“After
our (earlier) 49 days in office, now we have the confidence that we will finish
off corruption in Delhi,” he said to loud cheers. “We have to make Delhi the
first corruption-free city in India. We can do it.”
He repeatedly urged his ministers, legislators and AAP
colleagues never to show even the slightest hint of arrogance as members of the
ruling party, saying it was arrogance which had destroyed the Congress and the
BJP.
“We will
have to constantly introspect… If arrogance creeps in, we will not be able to
fulfil our mission.”
Kejriwal,
who has been suffering from fever for some days, clearly sounded unwell. He
said in his speech that he had come to the venue after taking Crocin.
He
decried statements made by some AAP leaders that after the sensational victory
in Delhi, the party would now expand rapidly in other states.
This
too, he said, smacked of arrogance.
“God has
ordered us, the people of Delhi have ordered us to serve them… All the coming
five years I will serve only the people of Delhi.”
He said
that although Delhi Police did not come under his control, he had the
confidence that with its help his government would be able to make Delhi a
secure city for people of all religions and communities.
He said
he told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the AAP stood for “constructive
cooperation” with the central government and that it was high time Delhi got
full statehood.
Kejriwal
said he had high regards for Kiran Bedi, who was the BJP’s chief ministerial
candidate and who lost the election.
“She is
like my elder sister. She has a lot of administrative experience… We will take
her along with us. We will take her guidance from time to time.”
He said
he would also periodically seek guidance from Ajay Maken, who led the Congress
in the election, in view of his experience as a central minister on how to
develop Delhi.
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