Rewriting politics of Delhi and possibly somewhere else in days to come, Arvind Kejriwal today took oath as Chief Minister promising a corruption-free government and new style of governance without arrogance of power.
A former revenue service official, 45-year-old Kejriwal, who broke from Anna Hazare's campaign for Lokpal and helped Aam Aadmi Party make a stunning debut in electoral politics winning 28 of the 70 seats, took the oath of office and secrecy at a public ceremony in the historic Ramlila Maidan, the fast venue of the anti-graft campaigners more than two years ago.
With the tag of an outsider in established politics, Kejriwal immediately hit the street running with his cabinet deciding to shed vestiges of VIP culture like security and red beacon cars and official bungalows, opting instead for modest government flats.
The minority government will face a vote of confidence in the Assembly on January 2 to be followed by the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker the following day.
Over a lakh people attended the ceremony from which leaders of outside supporter Congress, including outgoing Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, other parties, his guru Hazare kept away. Posters proclaiming "Chief Minister today, Prime Minister tomorrow" appeared at the venue.
Along with Kejriwal, six others --- Manish Sisodia, Girish Soni, Rakhi Birla, Satyendra Jain, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Somnath Bharti -- took oath as ministers administered by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
Sporting his trademark Gandhi cap proclaiming that "I am an aam admi', Kejriwal wore a blue pullover over bush shirt and trousers discarding the traditional 'kurta-pyjama' of politicians.
BJP leader Harsh Vardhan, who would be the Leader of the Opposition in the new Assembly, was the lone prominent politician to be present. Kejriwal even praised him as an honest person. Shoiab Iqbal, JD(U) MLA, was also present.
In a short speech after the formalities were over, Kejriwal said the Aam Admi Party has come with a promise to provide governance different from the one given by corrupt parties.
