Atishi, the chief minister-designate of Delhi, is expected to take the oath of office on Saturday evening, according to officials. The ceremony will take place at Raj Niwas, pending the finalization of the new government’s formation and official confirmation of the event’s timing.
Details regarding the swearing-in are still being worked out, with formalities such as the gazette notification for the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the formation of the new government still in process.
“The ceremony is anticipated to be held late Saturday afternoon or evening, once all necessary procedures are completed,” officials said. Sources from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) indicated that the event might take place around 4:30 p.m.
It remains unclear whether Atishi will be sworn in alongside her council of ministers. The ceremony is expected to be a relatively low-key affair due to the somber mood within the party, stemming from Kejriwal’s resignation and the delay in approvals, which has left limited time for preparations, according to an AAP leader.
Notifications related to the formation of the new government and Atishi’s oath are expected to be finalized either late Friday night or on Saturday.
Earlier this week, AAP legislators unanimously selected Atishi as the leader of the ruling legislature party. The new cabinet lineup includes Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Imran Hussain, and first-time MLA Mukesh Ahlawat from Sultanpur Majra.
Rai, Gahlot, Bharadwaj, and Hussain were part of the outgoing Kejriwal administration.
Kejriwal, the national convener of AAP, was released from Tihar Jail on September 13 after spending over five months in connection with an excise policy case. In a surprising move two days later, he announced his resignation, citing the BJP’s smear campaign against him. Kejriwal expressed his intention to return as chief minister after receiving what he called a “certificate of honesty” from the people of Delhi in the upcoming assembly elections.
