Delhi oath ceremony to be mega show for NDA

The swearing-in ceremony of the next Delhi chief minister is set to become a mega show of strength by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the event is likely to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, the chief ministers of all 20 states controlled by the alliance, celebrities and prominent citizens, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders said on Monday.

- Alok KN Mishra

The oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held on February 20 at the Ramlila Maidan on a mammoth scale as the party looks to stamp its return to the Capital after 27 years with a mega event. The chief minister is likely to be named at a BJP legislature party meeting to be held on February 19, after which the newly elected BJP legislature party leader as well as other lawmakers will drive to Raj Niwas and stake claim to power, said BJP leaders aware of the matter.

"It has been decided that the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister and cabinet will be held at Ramlila Maidan as it was at that historic location that the first mega protest, led by Jayaprakash Narayan, was held in 1975 against Indira Gandhi's government," said Virendra Sachdeva, chief of the Delhi BJP unit.

The ceremony is likely to take place at 4.30pm.

A BJP leader said all efforts were being made to make the swearing-in ceremony a grand affair as the party won Delhi after 27 years.

"The guest list will include PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, party chief JP Nadda, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and all other CMs of the BJP and NDA ruled states, and over 200 MPs from the BJP and NDA parties. Among the guests will also be noted businesspersons and technocrats of the country," said the leader, asking not to be named.