Describing BJP leader Kiran Bedi as his elder sister, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said he had always looked up to her as a person with huge administrative experience, and would not hesitate to seek her advice and guidance as and when required.
He also lauded former union minister and senior Congress leader Ajay Maken for his long years of experience in government, and added that he would approach the latter as well on how to take the city and its people forward.
"I respect Kiran Bedi a lot. In elections, someone wins and someone loses...... She is like my elder sister; she has had a lot of experience with the police force, in administration, and it will be my endeavour from time to time to consult her. We will take her guidance, also from Ajay Maken who has had wide experience in policy planning and in administration," he said after being sworn-in as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi at the Ramlila ground.
He also said that his government will work with all good people and make Delhi a city that both rich and poor could be proud of.
"I am not the one who has taken the oath of chief minister; every one of you has become chief minister. From today, all of you will breathe in an atmosphere of independence. Corruption will end. I do believe it will be eradicated step-by-step. I hope that within the next five years, this menace of corruption will end in this capital city of Delhi," said Kejriwal.
I pray to God to give me the strength and humility to work for the city's welfare, and for the people. I pray that I never become arrogant or become egotistical or become greedy. For me, this is a mission of service and sacrifice, and I pray that I am given the strength to achieve the goals that we have set out for ourselves," he added.
He also had words of praise for all the activists of the AAP, without whom he said the party could never have dreamt or achieved the objective of returning to office to work for the people of Delhi and for their betterment.
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Earlier, the AAP chief was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Delhi's Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung at the Ramlila Maidan which was attended by around one lakh people.
As the eighth chief minister of Delhi, Kejriwal at 46 is the youngest chief minister of Delhi.
In an unprecedented first for the national capital, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party won 67of the 70 seats on offer in the Delhi polls. With this extraordinary mandate, the AAP has become the first non-Congress and non-BJP party to rule the city.
The Congress which was in power in Delhi for 15 years failed to even open its account in the polls.
The BJP, which was relying heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity and had brought in former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as its chief ministerial candidate to counter Kejriwal, managed to secure just three seats.