PM, parties congratulate CM Kejriwal

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday called up Arvind Kejriwal and congratulated him on becoming the Chief Minister of Delhi and promised support to him.

During the telephonic talk, Dr. Singh extended best wishes and support to Mr. Kejriwal as he undertakes new responsibilities, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Congress, BJP and Left parties too congratulated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, hoping that the new government will “live up to the expectations” of the people and fulfil promises made by his Aam Aadmi Party during the assembly polls.

Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said the party will “continue their support” if the new regime fulfils the promises made earlier.

“He has become the Chief Minister… and I hope he will fulfil the promises based on which people voted for him and his party. I congratulate him. I wish he is able to fulfil the expectations of the people,” he said.

“The job of running a government is with the ruling party and we’ll all work together. Delhi people have problems of electricity, water, jhuggi and pucca houses, and permanent jobs for contractual employees…and if they fulfil those promises, Congress will continue to support the new government,” he added.

BJP President Rajnath Singh too congratulated Delhi’s seventh Chief Minister on Saturday while refraining from attacking AAP, whose spectacular debut in the 70-member Delhi Assembly polls stopped BJP from forming government in the national capital though it emerged as the single largest party.

“I heartily congratulate Mr. Kejriwal on taking the oath of office and secrecy. And, I wish AAP and Congress together will give a stable government. And, their government will fully live up to the expectations of the people. I wish the government fulfils the promises made,” Mr. Singh said.

The BJP chief, however, added that he would not give a “reaction” on the occasion as it is “not appropriate”.

“Because in a healthy democracy, all must maintain a certain decorum,” he said.

Leading a fledgling party that stunned both political heavyweights in the Delhi polls, Mr. Kejriwal on Saturday took charge of the government as the seventh Chief Minister of Delhi, hailing it as “not AAP’s government but of the 1.5 crore people of Delhi”.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the jam-packed historic Ramlila Maidan, the venue that earlier saw Mr. Kejriwal coming into limelight as a national anti-corruption champion before he took a plunge into mainstream politics calling for a “systemic change”.

Dressed in his usual ‘aam aadmi’ avatar, Mr. Kejriwal in his 20-minute speech promised to the people a “corruption-free government” and a new style of governance without “arrogance of power”.

CPI extended support to AAP government in Delhi in fighting corruption and take other measures to benefit the people, saying the stands of both parties were “almost similar” on most major issues.

In a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, CPI Delhi unit Secretary Dhirendra Sharma said he welcomed “the positive change” brought in by the electorate of Delhi after “discarding the Congress and BJP.”