Kejriwal all set for power, Sisodia likely deputy CM

The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday told lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung that it was ready to form the government in the National Capital Territory of Delhi with the support of the eight Congress legislators. AAP chief ministerial candidate Arvind Kejriwal, along with a team of six ministers, will take the oath at a ceremony to be held at Ramlila Maidan, from where party activists had launched the anti-corruption crusade under Anna Hazare’s leadership in 2011.
Mr Kejriwal, a bureaucrat-turned-politician, announced the AAP’s decision to form the government outside his party’s office at Kaushambi, in neighbouring Ghaziabad, on Monday morning. He said the decision was taken after a meeting of the party’s political affairs committee, where the results of the referendum based on responses from public meetings, SMSes, phone calls and the AAP website were discussed.
After informing the lieutenant-governor of his party’s decision to form the government, a beaming Mr Kejriwal told reporters that his request to hold the swearing-in at Jantar Mantar was not accepted on security grounds. “The L-G said the place will be overcrowded. But he has agreed to hold the ceremony at Ramlila Maidan.” Asked when the ceremony would be held, he said: “The L-G said the date would be finalised after seeking permission from the President.” It is learnt, however, that Mr Kejriwal requested Mr Jung to allow him to take the oath on December 26 at the Ramlila Maidan.
Mr Kejriwal made it clear that his top priority would be to fulfil all the promises he had made to the people of Delhi. Asked about his first priority, Mr Kejriwal said: “Bijli (electricity) and paani (water). We will sincerely work to fulfill all our promises.” The AAP had claimed in its manifesto it would slash electricity tariffs by 50 per cent and would provide 700 litres of water free of cost to each household every day.
Sources said the AAP legal team has already drafted a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill. “But we want to name it the Anna Hazare Lokpal Bill as it will be a model bill against corruption. All we want is Anna’s permission to use his name,” an AAP leader told this newspaper, requesting anonymity.
Congratulating Mr Kejriwal for staking claim to form the government, outgoing CM Sheila Dikshit said: “Now the onus is on him to fulfil all the promises he made during the elections.” Making it clear that the Congress had not given “unconditional” support to the AAP, she said: “If they fail to perform, we will withdraw our support.” BJP chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan said the AAP had “betrayed the people of Delhi” by accepting support from the Congress, which it had accused of being the most corrupt. “Today they have compromised on their principles. This is gross betrayal,” he said.
AAP sources indicated that while Mr Kejriwal’s oath-taking ceremony was likely to be held on Christmas Day, it could also be a day later, Thursday. While the party has elected the 45-year-old anti-corruption crusader as the chief of its parliamentary committee, there are indications that senior leader Manish Sisodia may be named deputy chief minister. If this happens, this will be the first time Delhi will have a deputy CM.
Sources said the party was seriously considering the deputy CMs option as Mr Kejriwal will be extremely busy over the next few months with the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. “We have to deliver. We are exploring the option of a deputy CM to ensure that decisions are not delayed,” an AAP legislator told this newspaper. It is reliably learnt that many MLAs and candidates who lost the elections told the leadership at a closed-door meeting at the Constitution Club that Mr Kejriwal should now focus on the Lok Sabha elections.
“It will be very difficult for Mr Kejriwal to focus only on Delhi as he will be campaigning in different parts of the country... That’s why we would like to have a deputy CM who could take decisions in his absence,” an MLA from East Delhi said. It is reliably learnt all those present at the meeting were told in no certain terms by their leaders to start work in their respective constituencies. Mr Kejriwal told them they should be fully prepared to go in for a fresh Assembly election in Delhi.
While the AAP is yet to finalise the deputy CM issue, there were clear indications that it will finalise the names of its Cabinet ministers on Tuesday. Some legislators said the names of Mr Vinod Kumar Binny, Mr Rajesh Garg, Mr Harish Khanna, Mr Jarnail Singh, Commando Surender, Ms Rakhi Birla and Ms Vandana Kumari were being strongly considered for the new Cabinet. The party is likely to propose Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharati as the Speaker of the 70-member Assembly.