New Delhi: The newly elected Chief Minister of Delhi will take the oath of office on Thursday in a grand ceremony at the iconic Ramlila Maidan. The event will be attended by top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, ministers, and party allies, as well as a host of other dignitaries.
Reports indicate that the BJP is sparing no effort to make the ceremony a monumental occasion, marking the party’s return to power in the national capital after 26 years. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m., with a musical program set to precede the swearing-in. Renowned singer Kailash Kher is expected to perform during the festivities.
The grand gathering will also include Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers from 20 states, along with diplomats from major countries. BJP leaders and workers who campaigned in Delhi’s recent elections are also invited, along with over 50 film stars and prominent industrialists.
In addition to political figures, farmers from Delhi, beneficiaries of central government schemes, and common citizens of Delhi are expected to be present at the event. Religious leaders such as Baba Ramdev, Swami Chidananda, and Baba Bageshwar Dhirendra Shastri will also attend.
Despite the high-profile nature of the ceremony, the identity of the new Chief Minister remains unclear. A delay in the decision was attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s international visits to France and the US. Even after his return, there has been no official announcement regarding the appointment.
Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma, is seen as the leading contender for the top post. However, sources indicate that the list of potential candidates includes around 15 names, with nine individuals expected to be chosen for the cabinet, including the Chief Minister and the Assembly Speaker.
The 48 newly elected BJP MLAs are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to select their leader. In the Delhi assembly elections earlier this month, the BJP made a significant comeback, securing 48 of the 70 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was relegated to just 22 seats.
