Arvind Kejriwal sworn-in as Delhi CM: As it happened

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday pledged to make Delhi the country's first corruption-free city and urged his party colleagues never to be arrogant.

5:58 pm: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare greets Arvind Kejriwal, says he is proud that one of his volunteers has become the Chief Minister of Delhi. "I had congratulated Arvind on the counting day as well. I again congratulate him for having taken oath as the Chief Minister. I am proud that one of our volunteers has formed the government in Delhi,"​ says Anna. 

5:10 pm: Janardan Dwivedi says, "Our congratulations to the AAP. They have to first fulfill the promises made to the people. We want the promises that the AAP made to be fulfilled," he said.

5:00 pm: "I wish good luck to Arvind Kejriwal and his team. People of Delhi have given them a big mandate with a lot of hope and aspirations. As a Delhiite myself, I certainly want to see all these promises that the Aam Aadmi Party has made are fulfilled over a period of time," says BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao.

4:19 pm: I will look after Finance and Planning, Education, Urban Development, Revenue and any other department that is not allocated to any minister: Manish Sisodia.

4:15 pm: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not hold any portfolio but oversee the work of all the ministers, announces Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. "He (Kejriwal) will oversee all ministries through modern technology. He will try to bring systemic changes. He will meet people to know what their problems are. He will also oversee the MLAs."

4:09 pm: I have been asked to work as the Deputy CM of Delhi, says Manish Sisodia. 

4:08 pm: Satyender Jain to hold Power, Health, Industries, PWD and Irrigation and Flood Control portfolios, says Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

4:07 pm: Asim Ahmed Khan will hold Food and Civil Supplies, Environment and Forest portfolios. Jitender Singh Tomar will be in charge of Law and Justice, Home, Tourism, Art and Culture.  

4:06 pm: Gopal Rai will hold Transport, Labour, Rural Development and General Administration portfolios, says Sisodia.

4:05 pm: Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia tells a news agency that during a meeting with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, portfolios were allocated to ministers. Sandeep Kumar will be taking care of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, SC/ST welfare. 

1:53 pm: East Delhi MP Maheish Girri says he could not attend Kejriwal's swearing-in as he is out of town. 

Couldn't attend the Swearing-In of the Delhi government as I am out of town. My best wishes for CM @ArvindKejriwal ji & his team. — Maheish Girri (@MaheishGirri) February 14, 2015

1:44 pm: Congress senior leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi extends best wishes to Kejriwal. 

Best to Kejriwal. Hope he is able to ground, root& actualise some of his mental flights into implemented programs. — Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 14, 2015

1:35 pm: Delhi Cabinet meet, earlier scheduled for later today, has been postponed due to ill health of CM Arvind Kejriwal. 

1:25 pm: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal assumes office.

1:22 pm: Arvind Kejriwal, ministers reach Delhi secretariat. 

1:05 pm: Reciprocating Arvind Kejriwal's gesture, Congress leader Ajay Maken​ tweets: 

Kejriwal has begun well on a positive note. Wish him all the best and all support to him in his efforts FOR Delhi! — Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) February 14, 2015

1:04 pm: Arvind Kejriwal concludes his speech by singing a few lines of a song of brotherhood - the same Manna Dey song which the AAP leader sang at the Ramlila Maidan in 2013. The revolutionary song, sung by Manna Dey and penned by Pradeep, is from an old Bollywood film, "Paigham".

1:03 pm: Delhi CM Kejriwal extends good wishes to Team India for the World Cup. "I am confident the Indian team will win the cricket World Cup. I wish them all the very best."

1:02 pm: Arvind Kejriwal hails AAP volunteers, says their stories bring tears in his eyes. MLAs got fame and ministries. What have those unseen faces got, who worked hard not for Kejriwal, AAP but for the better future of Delhi, says Kejriwal.

1:01 pm: I have not taken oath as Delhi CM. Today, every Delhiite has sworn-in as Delhi CM today. Today, you will breathe in corruption-free air. I pray to God to give us strength and sanity to take right decisions, says the Delhi CM.

12:59 pm: I respect Kiran Bedi. She is like my elder sister. She has vast administrative experience. We will take her guidance. Ajay Maken has an expertise in making strategies. We will time-to-time take his guidance. There are good people in other political parties too. We don't want to indulge in party politics, says Kejriwal.

12:58 pm: “I request media not to mock at us. We will need cars to do our work. I know my limits. I am a very small person, with a humble background. My house has 4-5 rooms. I do not need more than this. But I need an office, otherwise how would a CM work.”

12:57 pm: We want to end VIP culture in Delhi. In Europe, some ministers stand at the bus stop. Why can't we be like that? We will not have any red beacons on top of minister's vehicles. Not even on the CM's car, promises Kejriwal.

12:56 pm: After winning the polls, I have been getting calls from lots of people, who are ready to fund schools, colleges, provide us with land, CCTV cameras. I have only learnt one thing that people of this country are good, says the Delhi CM.

12:55 pm: “I will not let anybody steal your tax. We will put your taxes to good use. I promise you better roads, parking, improve your markets, women's safety. One thing that I have learnt from our 49-day government is that the government has a lot of money."

12:54 pm: Delhi's traders have helped us a lot during the election. I promise all traders that no department will bother them or create hurdles in their work. We want trade, industries to flourish. Please fill all the taxes faithfully. This will go to Delhi's benefit, urges Kejriwal.

12:53 pm: I know that the PM is very busy. The PM has a lot of work on his hands. He has to look after the entire country and go abroad, I told him that let people of Delhi run the place. I am your CM. Even those three constituencies where AAP did not win are our booths. We all will have to change Delhi, says Kejriwal.

12:51 pm: For the last 15 years, the BJP has been raising the issue of full statehood to Delhi. I told the PM that God cannot give a better opportunity than this. I am ready and I hope that the Prime Minister is also ready to help us and work together, says Kejriwal. 

12:50 pm: "Even though the Delhi Police doesn't come under the Delhi government, we want to join hands with them. We want to ensure that every member of all religious groups feels safe in Delhi. Lately, I went to meet Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), saying we want constructive cooperation from the Centre. We will work with the central government to make Delhi a top-class city."

12:48 pm: "In recent days, we witnessed several communal incidents in Delhi. We witnessed burning of churches. People of Delhi are peaceful. We all celebrate all festivals together. I want to tell all those indulging in such politics that it should be stopped." 

12:47 pm: I request media not to ask me deadlines. We have a five-year government. I assure you we will do it as soon as possible. We will work for 24X7. I was down with fever and took Crocin before coming here today, says Kejriwal.

12:46 pm: I am reiterating that if someone asks for bribe, do not refuse. Record it on your mobile phone when he asks for money and submit it to me. We will soon begin the same telephone line we started during our last rule, which had became terror for the corrupt. Lokpal Bill is crucial for our government. I would like to tell you that other parties haven't passed it in 65 years. We would pass it as soon as possible. We would do everything in a solid way​, exhorts Kejriwal.

12:45 pm: We will make Delhi the country's first corruption-free place, announces Arvind Kejriwal.

12:44 pm: During anti-graft campaign, there was a doubt whether India could be corruption free. We used to demand for Lokpal Bill, but always thought whether it could curb corruption. During our 49-day government last time, even our toughest rivals would say that we got rid of corruption, asserts Kejriwal.

12:42 pm: I have been told that some people donning my party caps created nuisance. I am sure they cannot be our party volunteers. Our rivals might be maligning us by wearing our caps. Whatever it is, I am using this stage to direct all officers, police officials that if someone wearing an AAP cap creates nuisance, they should be thrown into jail immediately. Police should give them double the punishment, says Kejriwal.

12:41 pm: Kejriwal says, "God has given me strength. Delhi's public has given me love. I will stay in Delhi, and will work for Delhi's development. I will continue to work for five years."

12:40 pm: I have seen some AAP members on TV saying we'll fight elections from different parts of the country. I feel a sense of arrogance. First Congress and then BJP got routed due to arrogance. We were over ambitious in the Lok Sabha election. We were taught a lesson, says Kejriwal.

12:39 pm: When someone wins like this, arrogance takes over. That is why, we all have to be very cautious and introspect that this doesn't make us arrogant, Kejriwal tells AAP members.

12:38 pm: People from all religions, all economic backgrounds, ages, voted for us. 67 out of 70 seats cannot be due to somebody's work. This has to be a miracle. God is trying to tell us something. He has a plan. I'm grateful that God chose us as his medium, says Kejriwal.

12:37 pm: One year ago we had given our resignation. After a year, we have an Aam Aadmi (common man's) government. I knew people of Delhi loved us. But we didn't know they love us this much. 67 out of 70 seats. We felt like seats were raining down on us, says Kejriwal.

12:35 pm: Arvind Kejriwal leads crowd in chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai", "Inquilab zindabad", "Vande Mataram".

12:34 pm: National anthem is being played.  

12:30 pm: Jitender Singh Tomar (Tri Nagar)​ takes oath as Cabinet minister in new Delhi Assembly.

12:28 pm: Gopal Rai (Babarpur) sworn-in as Cabinet minister.

12:25 pm: Shakurbasti MLA Satyendra Kumar Jain takes oath.

12:23 pm: Sandeep Kumar (Sultanpur) sworn-in as Cabinet minister. 

12:21 pm: Asim Ahmed Khan (Matia Mahal) takes oath as part of Arvind Kejriwal's Cabinet in Delhi Assembly.

12:18 pm: After Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia takes oath.

12:15 pm: Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administers the oath of office to Arvind Kejriwal. Large number of people gathered at the Ramlila Grounds erupt in cheer.

12:12 pm: Swearing-in ceremony begins.

12:10 pm: Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung​, Arvind Kejriwal, and others stand tall during the national anthem before swearing-in ceremony.

12:05 pm: Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung arrives at the venue. He will administer the oath of office to Arvind Kejriwal and six other Cabinet ministers.

11:55 pm: Delhi BJP MLAs - Vijender Gupta (Rohini), Jagdish Pradhan (Mustafabad) and OP Sharma (Vishwas Nagar) - at Ramlila Maidan to attend Arvind Kejriwal's swearing-in ceremony.

11:52 am: Arvind Kejriwal arrives at Ramlila Maidan​. He will take oath as Delhi chief minister shortly.

11:30 am: AAP leader Yogendra Yadav is swarmed by party supporters at Ramlila Maidan.

11:20 am: Arvind Kejriwal leaves his residence to go to Ramlila Maidan, where he will be sworn-in as Delhi's new chief minister today.

10:53 am: Arvind Kejriwal's family leaves residence to attend swearing-in ceremony. Kejriwal will leave for Ramlila Maidan shortly. 

10:14 am: Actor Jaaved Jaaferi, who had joined AAP last year, ​shared a picture of the party leaders on Twitter.

What a team pic.twitter.com/OHlng1DFVi — Jaaved Jaaferi (@jaavedjaaferi) February 14, 2015

9:55 am: Talking to reporters, senior AAP leader Dr Kumar Vishwas says it is important day for ​Swaraj. I extend my good wishes to Arvind Kejriwal and the entire Cabinet, adds Vishwas.

9:45 am: AAP's new poster is out in which “Mufflerman" Arvind Kejriwal is seen without his trademark sweater and muffler. Donning a light blue shirt and Nehru jacket, Kejriwal, in the new banner, thanks every citizen of Delhi for the historic mandate to his Aam Aadmi Party.

9:30 am: AAP ka Cola and AAP ka Lemon are being distributed at Ramlila Maidan. 

9:20 am: According to reports, Arvind Kejriwal is down with fever and doctors have arrived at his residence to attend him. Doctors have advised him to take complete rest. There can be a change in his schedule today.  

9:00 am: Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who was the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in the Delhi Assembly Elections, tweeted:

Today is a day of celebration & reflection. When both the processes are done with true responsibility & commitment,India is the real winner — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) February 14, 2015

8:57 am: Before taking oath, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia tweeted:

काश आज मां और पिता जी भी यहीं साथ होते! मैं जानता हूं स्थूल रूप में नहीं पर सूक्ष्म रूप में आप मेरे साथ हैं। हर पल! — Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 14, 2015

8:55 am: Shakurbasti MLA Satyendra Kumar Jain says all 67 MLAs will be given responsibilities. "The priority is to fulfill promises that we made to people."

8:50 am: Actor Javed Jaffrey, who had fought Lok Sabha polls on AAP ticket, is at Arvind Kejriwal's residence.

8:46 am: Talking to a news agency, Manish Sisodia's wife, Seema Sisodia, says all promises will be fulfilled, though it may take some time. "Electricity, water, school admission, women security are key issues." 

8:43 am: Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia says: "If conscience is clear, there is no fear. We just have to work with honesty." 

8:30 am: Arvind Kejriwal will take oath as Delhi's CM at around noon today.

8:25 am: Arvind Kejriwal, along with his family members, will leave his residence in Kaushambhi at 10:00 am. Unlike last time, he will not be taking the Metro but travel by car to the venue of swearing-in ceremony.

8:15 am: Around 1,200 Delhi Police personnel will keep a tight vigil at the Ramlila ground where a large crowd is expected to gather. The Security Wing will secure the stage where Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Kejriwal and six other ministers.

8:05 am: 46-year-old Kejriwal, in a radio message, has already invited people of Delhi to his swearing-in ceremony at the Ramlila ground -- the protest venue of the anti-graft campaign over three years ago.

8:00 am: Exactly one year after he quit over Janlokpal issue, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal will on Saturday take oath at the historic Ramlila Grounds as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi, after leading AAP to a stupendous victory in the Assembly polls trouncing BJP.

Earlier story:

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday night appointed AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister and six other party leaders as Cabinet ministers, four of whom are first time legislators, and signed an order to revoke Central rule from Saturday.

A Home Ministry statement said President appointed Kejriwal as the Chief Minister of Delhi with effect from the date he is sworn in.

Kejriwal is set to take oath as chief minister along with his Cabinet on Saturday at the historic Ramlila Maidan, the protest venue of the anti-graft campaigners over three years ago.

"The President on the advise of the Chief Minister has also appointed Manish Sisodia, Asim Ahmed Khan, Sandeep Kumar, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai and Jitender Singh Tomar as Ministers of Delhi," the statement said.

Kejriwal is expected to keep the key portfolios of home, power and finance with himself while giving education, PWD and urban development to his confidante Sisodia, AAP sources said.

The departments to be handled by Kejriwal and Sisodia, who will be the Deputy Chief Minister, also needs direct dealing with the Centre.

Jain, who had handled the Health and Industry in the earlier AAP rule, is expected to retain the same portfolios, sources said.

Rai, a senior party leader and Political Affairs Committee (PAC) member, is tipped be to the next Transport and Labour Minister.

Kumar, a lawyer by profession, is likely to handle Women and Child Welfare department and SC and ST Welfare while Tomar, also a lawyer, is expected to handle the Law department.

Khan is likely to be given the charge of Food and Civil Supplies and Minority Affairs ministries.

Rai, Kumar, Tomar and Khan are first-time legislators.

President's Rule was imposed in Delhi on February 17 last year, after Kejriwal resigned as chief minister and President Mukherjee accepted his resignation.

In fresh elections, AAP staged a historic victory sweeping 67 of the 70 seats and leaving BJP which emerged as the single-largest party last time with only 3 seats.

This will be Kejriwal's second term as Delhi chief minister, after he resigned last February after running a 49-day government in the national capital with the support of Congress.