AAP gets ‘likes’; Kejriwal to announce Delhi Govt formation shortly

New Delhi: Belying all claims of being a 'non-actor or no factor' in the Assembly elections by the Congress and BJP, Aam Aadmi Party founder Arvind Kejriwal is all set to officially announce his party’s decision at 11.30 am Monday over government formation in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. He is likely to meet the Lt. Governor an hour later.

The AAP office in Ghaziabad was swarmed by supporters ahead of a crucial meeting that began at 10 am.

The engineer-turned-bureaucrat, who was largely instrumental in ending the 15-year rule of caretaker CM Sheila Dikshit, had declared he would take a call on government formation only after getting the feedback from citizens through 'jan sabhas' (public meetings), SMSes, phone calls, Facebook and his party’s website.

Speaking to reporters early on Monday, Kejriwal said: "We will let you know our decision by 11:30 AM."

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As most of the people have responded by saying they support government formation by the AAP, it is now clear that the 45-year-old former Indian Revenue Service officer will announce his decision at 11 am Monday at a press conference in the Constitution Club. Soon after this, he is likely to apprise lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung about staking claim to government formation.

The AAP will hold a meeting at 9 am Monday at its office at Kaushambi.

Cartoon by Subhani

As most of the people have responded by saying they support government formation by the AAP, it is now clear that the 45-year-old former Indian Revenue Service officer will announce his decision at 11 am Monday at a press conference in the Constitution Club. Soon after this, he is likely to apprise lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung about staking claim to government formation.

Kejriwal said this was the first time such a thing was  happening in India. “Earlier, the common man’s role was limited to just voting, but we are going out to them and making them feel empowered,” he said.

“We are the talk of the town. This is true democracy.” Sources close to Kejriwal said the AAP intends to hold its oath-taking ceremony either at Jantar Mantar or the Ramlila Grounds, from where it had launched its anti-corruption crusade two years ago. Sources at Raj Niwas said the oath-taking ceremony was likely to be held on Wednesday.

Sources said the AAP leadership was now finalising the names of those MLAs who could be given ministerial berths.

While some party leaders are in favour of giving ministerial berths on the basis of the seven Lok Sabha seats, others feel the seven-member Cabinet should have clear representation from each community.

A leader close to Kejriwal said the party was going to give due weightage to the dalit community as it swept as many as nine out of 12 reserved seats. “We need to give representation to women as well as we are concerned about women’s security,” he added.

With all eyes on Kejriwal, who is likely to become Delhi’s fifth chief minister, many in his party feel it is high time for the Ramon Magsasay Award winner to prove his mettle by fulfilling the promises he had made in the manifesto.

If there was one person who had sent the entire political spectrum into a tizzy, it was undoubtedly Kejriwal himself, who had attacked both the Congress and BJP on the issues of corruption, exorbitant rise in power and water tariffs and safety of women.

“Now the ball is in his court. He has to fulfil all these promises. Otherwise it will be the end of the AAP,” a local Congress leader said. “Our party has supported AAP as we want to see how he is going to fulfil all these promises.”

The soft-spoken Kerjiwal came into prominence during the agitation by 75-year-old activist Anna Hazare in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill in 2011. He was then a part of Team Anna. Soon after he announced he would contest elections, Hazare distanced himself from his political movement.