Senior BJP leaders taking stock of the arrangements for Thursday’s event.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set the ball rolling on government formation nearly one and a half weeks after winning 48 seats in the Delhi Assembly election.
Delhi CM announcement LIVE updates
The party legislators’ meeting will be held on Wednesday evening, during which the Delhi Chief Minister’s name is expected to be finalised, sources said. The oath-taking ceremony will take place at Ramlila Maidan the following day, after which the newly sworn-in Ministers will participate in the first Cabinet meeting.
Several prominent city leaders, including Purvanchalis, Punjabis, Dalits and women, are believed to be in the reckoning for the top post. However, given how the national leadership has sprung surprises while naming the CMs in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, party insiders are awaiting another surprise on Wednesday.
Also read: A.P. CM Chandrababu Naidu to attend Delhi CM swearing in ceremony
Meanwhile, preparations for the oath-taking ceremony, which is likely to start at 11 a.m. on Thursday, are in full swing at the historic ground.
Preparations under way at Ramlila Maidan for the oath-taking ceremony.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, who is overseeing the preparations at Ramlila Maidan, held a meeting with the office-bearers at the party’s State office in the day to chalk out the finer details.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked the BJP for not announcing the CM’s name even 10 days after the election results.
Mocking the grand event being organised at the historic ground, AAP’s Delhi convener Gopal Rai likened it to a wedding procession, “Except, no one knows who the groom is.”
The AAP leader said that usually, after an election, the winning party selects its leader and stakes claim to form the government.
“However, the BJP is making all preparations without revealing who will lead the party in the Assembly,” said Mr. Rai.
Security arrangements
The Delhi police will deploy over 5,000 personnel to secure VVIPs and manage law and order in and around Ramlila Maidan during the oath-taking ceremony, said an officer.
Over 10 companies of paramilitary forces will also be deployed in the area, added the officer. Security personnel will be deployed at over 2,500 spots, the officer added
Top BJP leaders, including the CMs of the States where the party is in power, are expected to attend the event.
The police said emergency response teams, snipers, quick reaction teams, SWAT commandos, among others, along with multiple layers of security barricades, will be deployed for the safety and security of the dignitaries.
Published – February 19, 2025 01:52 am IST
