NEW DELHI: The suspense over who will be chosen as the next Delhi Chief Minister will end soon as the BJP legislature party meeting is set to get underway shortly.
Meanwhile, preparations are on in full swing for the oath-taking ceremony at the iconic Ramlila Maidan on Thursday. BJP sources claimed that nearly 50,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues and CMs of states ruled by the BJP and its allies. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena will administer the oath to the CM and cabinet ministers.
Though party leaders are tight-lipped about the faces of CM and his cabinet colleagues, sources suggest Pravesh Verma, Mohan Singh Bisht, Rajkumar Chouhan, Arvinder Singh Lovely, Rekha Gupta, Kapil Mishra and Ashish Sood are among the front runners. The final announcement will be made after the legislative party meeting which is scheduled at around 7:30 pm on Wednesday at the Delhi BJP headquarters.
A senior BJP leader at the party office said the oath talking ceremony will not only be attended by political leaders but also prominent personalities from other walks of life.
"We are expecting the presence of around 50,000 people at the historic Ramlila ground. Considering the enthusiasm since the party has come to power after nearly 27 years, the footfall can even touch one lakh and the arrangements have been made keeping this in mind," the party leader said.
According to party insiders, outgoing Chief Minister Atishi, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia have also been invited as per protocol. Senior bureaucrats, including Delhi’s Chief Secretary and the Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, will oversee the official proceedings.
"Three stages are being set up at the venue: the central stage will host PM Modi, Lt. Governor VK Saxena, BJP chief JP Nadda, and the new chief minister along with their cabinet members. The remaining stages will accommodate Union ministers, chief ministers, deputy chief ministers, and other distinguished guests," added a party insider.