NEW DELHI: Amid suspense over the name of the new chief minister after the election results, the swearing-in ceremony of the BJP government may take place on February 19 or 20. The BJP Legislature Party is likely to be held a day before the swearing-in that marks the return of the saffron party in the national capital after a gap of 27 years.
Preparations to form the government are expected to gain momentum after PM Narendra Modi returns from his trip to France and the US. PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and other senior leaders will pick the chief minister, perhaps one or two his/her deputies and a council of ministers.
After the arrival of PM Modi, the party’s central leadership will appoint observers who will hold discussions with newly elected MLAs before announcing the name for the CM.
BJP MLA from Rajouri Garden Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, “The new government will start working on February 19-20 after the legislature party meeting on February 18-19.”
Senior BJP leaders rubbished reports of race for the CM, calling them “mere speculations”. “There is no race for the CM post. In our party, the CM or the leader of the legislature party is elected at a meeting of MLAs,” said an MLA pleading annoymity.
“We are thinking about addressing issues like development, clean water and air for the people. We will work to make the Yamuna water free of pollution,” he said.
The MLAs said as per the PM’s promise, the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which was obstructed by the AAP government, would be implemented in in the first cabinet meeting of the new government.