In a momentous day in Indian politics, Arvind Kejriwal, a 45-year-old Magsaysay Award-winning rights activist and vocal anti-corruption campaigner, became the seventh, and youngest, Chief Minister of Delhi State, capping an amazing run that saw him become not just an electoral giant-killer but a major contender in the 2014 general election.
The venue virtually turned into ‘sea of white’ as thousands of Kejriwal supporters reached the Maidan wearing trademark white topis with aam aadmi emblazoned across them. After taking oath at the historic Ramlila Maidan, venue of many an epic political rally in the last six decades but seeing its first ever swearing-in of a Government, he said, “It is a historic day, it is not Kejriwal who has taken the oath but the people of Delhi who have taken the oath. It is an effort to give power to the people of Delhi.”
Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party created history by defeating the Congress within a year of its formation, was sworn-in a businesslike ceremony at the ground, teeming with tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters, a large number of them young, senior citizens and women.
The enthusiastic crowd also recited Vande Mataram, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, which added a feeling of nationalism. Drenched in patriotism, some had T-shirts bearing AAP slogans. Kejriwal kept to the aam aadmi identification of his party by taking a Metro ride from his home in Kaushambi to Barakhamba station, along with his supporters, en route to Ramlila Maidan.
All along the way, he was mobbed by ecstatic crowds with supporters waving the national tricolour and sporting the AAP white sidecap, while the party’s broom symbol was visible everywhere. Dr Rajat Kapoor, a paediatrician and resident of RK Puram was in high spirit to celebrate the formation of the new Government. “I followed Kejriwal from the time he first made his presence felt at the annshan. I have always supported him in his rallies. Now, even my patients know that my clinic will be closed whenever there is a rally organised by Kejriwal,” he said. “Kejriwal has set an example of simplicity in the present political milieu and will help in cleansing Indian politics,” said Snehlata, an 80-year-old widow at Ramlila Maidan.
Kheem Singh, a senior citizen from Chandni Chowk, said, “I know Kejriwal will end up doing something great for the country.” Doodhiram Chaudhary from Pali in Rajasthan and 75-year-old Maya Devi from Bhiwani in Haryana, though ailing, had come to the Capital to be a part of the historic ceremony.
(With inputs from Vrinda Sharma, Mehak Singh & Komudi Arora)