Delhi CM highlights: LG invites BJP's Rekha Gupta to form government

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: Senior AAP leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said it was “strange” that the BJP could not pick a chief ministerial face for Delhi.

“Whether they trust their MLAs or not. They are not concerned about Delhi's schools, hospitals, electricity, water supply. There is an atmosphere of uncertainty,” Sisodia said at a press conference.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: BJP leader Dushyant Gautam said, “A capable CM will be chosen, whose primary focus will be to fulfil all commitments with a spirit of service. The people will also hold Arvind Kejriwal accountable for the deception of the past 10 years.”

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: Sources familiar with oath-taking arrangements told HT that PM Modi will arrive at Ramlila Maidan by 12.30 pm.

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena will administer the oath to the new Delhi chief minister and cabinet ministers shortly after PM Modi's arrival. The ceremony is expected to conclude by 1pm.

Delhi's new CM announcement LIVE: Rekha Gupta, the BJP MLA-elect from Shalimar Bagh, is seen as a key contender for the post of Delhi chief minister.

Rekha Gupta won against AAP's Bandana Kumari by 29,595 votes in the recently concluded assembly election. She is a former general secretary and president of the Delhi University Students Union, a member of the party's national executive, and the general secretary of the Delhi state unit.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: The BJP has invited around 30,000 guests to the oath-taking ceremony of the new Delhi chief minister at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday.

Key RSS leaders and spiritual Dharm Gurus will attend the oath ceremony. Industrialists and celebrities, along with Laddli Bahanas and farmers from Delhi, are also likely to attend the programme.

BJP leaders and workers from other states who were deployed for the Delhi Assembly elections have also been invited to the ceremony.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje drew parallels between Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that the two leaders blamed the Centre for their shortcomings.

“The people taught him a lesson. The double-engine government will improve Delhi's condition since not just the country but the whole world looks at it. It's the country's power centre... Whoever is the CM, I am happy that the CM will be from the BJP... Arvind Kejriwal should now just sit at home and watch the Delhi CM's oath-taking ceremony,” the minister told ANI.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: Ramlila Maidan, with a capacity of around 30,000 people, is undergoing preparations ahead of the oath-taking ceremony. Over 5,000 security personnel will be deployed in and around the venue.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Wednesday wrote a letter to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, demanding that an MLA from the Dalit community be named as the leader of opposition in the Delhi assembly.

“Appointing a Dalit MLA as the LoP is not just a political decision, but a strong step towards adhering to our core values,” Maliwal wrote in her letter to Kejriwal. Read more

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: BJP MLA-elect Rekha Gupta said, "Today's meeting (BJP legislature party meeting) will be held this evening. Tomorrow, Delhi will see the grand oath ceremony. The 'Ram Rajya' that was envisioned will take oath after 27 years. Everyone in Delhi will witness it with great joy."

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: BJP MP Yogender Chandolia said the party will choose its next Delhi chief minister after due deliberations.

“They (AAP) should tell us who among their 22 MLAs would be the LoP - Gopal Rai or Atishi,” he added.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: The BJP legislature party meeting is scheduled to begin around 7pm on Wednesday, during which the 48 newly elected MLAs will pick the new chief of Delhi. At least three MLAs told HT on Wednesday morning that they had been asked to reach the Delhi BJP office in Pandit Pant Marg in Lutyens Delhi sharp at 6pm for the meeting.

“The meeting is likely to begin soon after the MLAs gather at the party office possibly between 6:30pm-7pm where the MLAs feedback will be taken by the senior leaders who will be working as observers representing the central leadership of the party. Soon after the meeting, the name of the new CM is likely to be announced,” said a senior BJP leader.

-Inputs from Alok KN Mishra

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: BJP MLA-elect from Mustafabad Mohan Singh Bisht said the party will choose an ordinary worker will be chosen as the next Delhi chief minister. "If I will be (the CM), then I will see what all to be done."

If chosen as the Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, he said, “My priorities will be smooth conduct of the House and raising important issues of Delhi in the House”.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: “A new chapter of Delhi's progress is about to begin. With the 'Developed Delhi Pledge Ceremony', we all will together move towards new heights of development in Delhi. Come to Ramlila Maidan and be witness to this historic moment!,” said Delhi BJP in a post on X.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: Senior Delhi BJP leaders visited the Ramlila Ground on Tuesday to review preparations for a “historic and grand” oath-taking ceremony, set to mark the city's first BJP chief minister in over 25 years. After the inspection, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh shared that Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena is overseeing the arrangements. Chugh also mentioned that people from across the city have shown a keen interest in attending the event, expected to take place on Thursday.

Delhi new CM announcement LI: Many in the party believe that the BJP leadership might pick a “dark horse” among the newly elected MLAs as was the case in states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Delhi new CM announcement LIVE: The BJP is yet to appoint central observers for talks with the newly-elected party lawmakers as part of the process to finalise the name of the chief minister. The observers representing the central leadership will talk to the 48 lawmakers and give their feedback before the name of the chief minister is finalised. “The observers may be appointed before the legislature party meeting and talk to the MLAs before it,” said a second BJP leader.

Delhi new CM announcement LI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had said that the next Delhi chief minister will not live in “Sheesh Mahal” — a satirical name the party uses for the 6, Flag Staff Road bungalow where Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal stayed during his tenure as CM.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva had said that the government will select a new residence for the CM after the next government takes oath, and the CM is sworn in.

Delhi new CM announcement LI: The BJP had previously stated that the new Delhi government cabinet will include representatives from the Jat, Dalit, Purvanchali, Sikh, Uttarakhandi, and Baniya communities.

Delhi new CM announcement: Several legislators' names have been circulated as potential chief ministers since the Delhi assembly election results were announced on February 8.

They include Parvesh Verma, who defeated AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat, Rekha Gupta (Shalimar Bagh), Vijender Gupta (Rohini), Satish Upadhyay (Malviya Nagar), Ashish Sood (Janakpuri), Pawan Sharma (Uttam Nagar), and Ajay Mahawar (Ghonda), among others.

Delhi new CM announcement: Over 5,000 security personnel will be deployed in and around the Ramlila Maidan area on the day of the oath-taking ceremony for Delhi's new chief minister, an official said.

The officer further stated that over 10 companies of paramilitary forces will also be deployed to maintain law and order and manage traffic during the day.

Delhi new CM announcement: Ramlila Maidan, with a capacity of around 30,000 people, is undergoing preparations ahead of the oath-taking ceremony. Workers were seen on Monday repainting the boundary walls and cleaning the ground, pavements, and surrounding roads. Party sources indicate that the next chief minister of Delhi, along with the council of ministers, is expected to take the oath at Ramlila Maidan around 4.30 pm on Thursday. The ceremony will likely be attended by senior BJP leaders, including chief ministers from BJP-ruled states.

Delhi new CM announcement: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Monday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for questioning the BJP about revealing its Delhi chief ministerial candidate, describing it as a sign of AAP's growing restlessness. Tiwari assured that all details would be shared within the next 2-3 days. “This restlessness from AAP is evident. In the next 2-3 days, Delhi will have all the information. BJP's work and leadership will address most of Delhi's issues over the next five years,” Tiwari said.