Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her six cabinet ministers were officially sworn in as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) today. The swearing-in ceremony took place in the Delhi Assembly, marking the beginning of the new government’s tenure.
MLAs Take Oath in Multiple Languages
Notably, some MLAs took their oaths in regional languages:
- Kapil Mishra (BJP) – Sanskrit
- Sanjeev Jha (AAP) – Maithili
- Manjinder Singh Sirsa (BJP) – Punjabi
BJP MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely was sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker, taking his oath at the Raj Niwas before the session commenced. The oath was administered by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
The proceedings began with the singing of Vande Mataram, and Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva was present in the Speaker’s gallery to witness the session.
New Speaker to be Elected Today
The election for the new Delhi Assembly Speaker is scheduled later today, with BJP MLA Vijender Gupta being the frontrunner for the position.
CAG Reports to be Tabled Tomorrow
The Delhi Assembly bulletin has confirmed that:
- Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena will address the assembly on February 25.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports will be tabled the same day.
- A motion of thanks on the LG’s address will follow.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasized the importance of presenting the CAG report in the first session, stating that the previous government would be held accountable for the alleged misuse of public funds.
Atishi Becomes Delhi’s First Woman Leader of Opposition
Following the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) electoral loss, its 22 MLAs unanimously selected Atishi as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly. This makes her the first woman to hold the post in Delhi’s legislative history.
AAP convenor Gopal Rai announced the decision, emphasizing that the party would ensure the BJP government fulfills its promises. Atishi particularly mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to providing ₹2,500 to women in Delhi by March 8, stating:
“AAP will ensure that the BJP fulfils all its promises as the ruling party.”
BJP’s Landslide Victory in Delhi
The BJP won 48 out of 70 seats in the February 5 Assembly elections, bringing an end to AAP’s decade-long rule. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and several senior leaders lost their seats, leading to a major political shift in Delhi.
