New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) Tens of thousands packed the sprawling Ramlila Maidan where AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal will take oath Saturday as Delhi's chief minister for a second time in 14 months.
Cheering Aam Aadmi Party supporters started flocking to the ground in the heart of the capital right from the morning, and excitement ran high whenever a prominent party leader was spotted.
While most AAP activists and supporters were from Delhi, large numbers also came from other states, particularly neighbouring Haryana.
Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel deployed at the venue, which had a fresh look, had a tough time as the crowds began to swell just after 9 a.m.
Many in the gathering waved the Indian tricolour and others the AAP flag. Many held large photographs of Kejriwal, who led the AAP to a thumping win in the Delhi assembly election, sweeping 67 of the 70 seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party was left hanging with just three seats. The Congress, which had ruled Delhi for 15 long years until the December 2013 election that brought the AAP to power for the first time, was wiped out.
"This is a victory of the people," said AAP leader Dilip Pandey. "We were in a bad shape after the Lok Sabha election and we knew we had to stand up again. We were determined."
Kejriwal's earlier government, backed by the Congress, collapsed in just 49 days when he resigned. The AAP could not win any of the seven Lok Sabha seats last year.
Kejriwal, 46, is likely to hold the portfolios of finance and power departments. Also to be sworn in Saturday will be six ministers including Manish Sisodia, who will be Kejriwal's deputy.
The other ministers will be Satyendra Jain, Gopal Rai, Asim Mohammad Khan, Sandeep Kumar and Jitendra Singh Tomar.
BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, who lost the election, earlier tweeted: "Today is the day of celebration and reflection. When both the processes are done with true responsibility and commitment, India is the real winner."
Earlier, hundreds of people gathered outside Kejriwal's Girnar Tower apartment complex at Kaushambi in nearby Ghaziabad raising slogans hailing the new Delhi chief minister and the AAP.
Besides Sisodia, party leaders Sanjay Singh, Ashish Khaitan and Kumar Vishwas reached there in the morning.
Many danced on the streets to drum beats. The police had a tough time controlling the crowd.
AAP sources said Kejriwal was not in the best of health and he would leave for Ramlila Maidan in a car. Last time, he had boarded a Delhi Metro train along with thousands to reach the venue.
Hathras case: Rahul Gandhi leaves Delhi to meet the victim's family
There is a possibility of a tussle between Rahul Gandhi and UP Police on the Delhi-Noida border on Saturday on the Hathras case.
Udaipur Murder: 32 types of online courses, special training to become a jihadi; How Dawat-e-Islami flourished in India for four decades
Pak connection to the Udaipur massacre has come to the fore. It is being told that both the accused who slit Kanhaiya's throat was associated with the Dawat-e-Islami organization of Pakistan. This
Why was Pakistan furious over the preparations to convene a G-20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir?
Pakistan has opposed the G-20 meetings to be held in Jammu and Kashmir next year. Pakistan has said that it completely denies India's plans for the G20 meetings. Along with this, the neighboring
Intercontinental Cup Football: India's match with Vanuatu in Intercontinental Cup football, eyes on final ticket
The Indian team will take on Vanuatu in the four-nation Intercontinental Cup football on Monday but will be eyeing a place in the final of the tournament. India beat Mongolia 2-0 in their first match
In Rajasthan, women of Sahariya tribe victims of apathy, ignorance (Human Interest Feature)
Baran (Rajasthan), Feb 24 (IANS) With her eyes half open, an extremely anemic Dhanno is lying nearly unconscious on a hospital bed. Her hemoglobin level has plummeted to 2.5 which is far below the
Sanjauli Mosque Dispute: There is a curfew-like atmosphere in Sanjauli due to the mosque dispute, Hindu organizations are protesting
Shimla Masjid Case: The dispute over Sanjauli Masjid in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is not taking the name of stopping. In order to maintain law and order in the Sanjauli area of
India needs to be energy independent to serve people's need: Modi
New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Stressing on energy security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India will have to be independent in this area and seek new avenues to replenish existing
Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan or Australia, whose luck will shine? The race for the semi-finals is very interesting.
The Afghanistan team made a big upset by defeating England in the Champions Trophy 2025. Due to this upset, the England team was eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, while the Afghanistan
Taliban: The cruel face of the Taliban came to the fore again, 20 people were flogged in public
Vandalism has continued since the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Twenty people were publicly flogged on Wednesday as punishment for adultery, theft, and other crimes. A week ago, a man was hanged
Singer KK's unnatural death case registered, gun salute will be available at Kolkata airport
Millions of fans including the Bollywood world are in shock due to the sudden demise of Bollywood's famous singer KK. Meanwhile, KK's sudden death is being feared as an unnatural death. However, the
