Delhi: Wait for new CM to end today; PM, ministers, celebrities to attend Feb 20 oath

Delhi’s wait for a new chief minister following the assembly polls will end on Wednesday when the BJP Legislature Party selects its Leader of the House. Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing for the grand oath-taking ceremony scheduled for February 20 at the historic Ramlila Ground.

Party leaders confirmed that the chief minister and the entire Cabinet will take the oath in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, and other dignitaries. A massive crowd is expected at the event, with around 40 celebrities invited. Initially scheduled for 4:30 pm, the ceremony will now take place around noon, sources said.

BJP MP Yogender Chandolia stated that preparations are progressing rapidly. “Around 50,000 people, including party workers, RWAs, various sections of society, and saints, will be invited. It will be a grand event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cabinet ministers. The ceremony is expected to last about 25-30 minutes,” the Northwest Delhi MP said.

To mark the occasion, celebrations across Delhi will feature drumbeats to symbolise the change, he added. Ramlila Ground was chosen as the venue because it can accommodate the large number of people eager to witness the event, unlike Raj Niwas, which lacks the required space.

The newly elected BJP Legislature Party will convene at the party’s Delhi unit office on Wednesday evening to elect the Leader of the House in the Delhi Assembly. However, some chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, including Gujarat, may miss the oath-taking ceremony due to budget presentations in their respective states.

Efforts to clean and decorate Ramlila Ground and the surrounding areas, including roads, pavements, and medians, have been completed. Party leaders estimate that around one lakh people may attend, reflecting the enthusiasm among Delhi residents over the BJP forming a government in the city after more than 26 years.

Also Read: Delhi Assembly Election 2025: BJP’s historic comeback to power in the Capital after 27 years

The BJP secured victory in 48 out of 70 Assembly seats in the February 5 elections, ending Aam Aadmi Party’s decade-long rule in Delhi.

For the ceremony, the venue will feature three stages. The central stage will seat dignitaries, including the prime minister, Delhi LG V K Saxena, BJP President J P Nadda, the new chief minister, and Cabinet members. The two flanking stages will accommodate other dignitaries such as Union ministers, politicians, and chief ministers from various states.

Officials confirmed that as per protocol, outgoing chief minister Atishi and her predecessor, three-time chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, will also be invited to the ceremony.

Several names are being considered for the chief ministerial post, including Parvesh Verma, who defeated Kejriwal, as well as former Delhi BJP presidents Vijender Gupta and Satish Upadhyay. Other contenders include Pawan Sharma, Ashish Sood, Rekha Gupta, and Shikha Rai. The names of Ravinder Indraj Singh, MLA from Bawana (SC) seat, and Kailash Gangwal, who secured a BJP victory in the Madipur (SC) seat for the first time, are also under discussion.

Many within the party speculate that the BJP leadership may opt for a “dark horse” candidate, a strategy previously employed in Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

Earlier in the day, BJP leaders Tarun Chugh and Vinod Tavde, in charge of the swearing-in ceremony, along with Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, reviewed preparations at Ramlila Ground, located near New Delhi Railway Station.

Chugh told reporters that Delhi’s people had given the BJP and Prime Minister Modi a historic mandate and were eager to be part of the event. “February 20 will mark a historic occasion. Every section of society is excited to participate,” he said.

“Preparations are progressing at a war footing for the grand event at Ramlila Ground. People from all sections of Delhi society want to witness this historic moment, and the BJP is working to make it happen,” he added.

On Tuesday, a series of meetings took place at the Delhi BJP office on Pant Marg, which was adorned with party flags, posters, and banners. These discussions focused on the legislature party meeting and arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony.

(With inputs from PTI)