Delhi Chief minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal yesterday met PM Narendra Modi and invited him for the swearing-in ceremony at the Ramlila Maidan on February 14.
However, the Prime Minister expressed his inability as he would be out of the city on that day.
Arvind Kejriwal was accompanied by Manish Sisodia for his meeting with the Prime Minister.
Talking to reporters after Arvind Kerjiwal’s meeting with PM Narendra Modi, Manish Sisodia said that they had a good talk with the PM.
It was a “chai pe charcha” on full statehood for Delhi, Sisodia said about Kejriwal-Modi meeting.
The PM assured us that he would think over AAP’s demand to grant Delhi full statehood, Sisodia added.
Earlier, in an audio message released yesterday morning, Arvind Kerjiwal also invited Delhiites to come to Ramlila Maidan and attend his oath-taking ceremony.
Kejriwal and his close aide Manish Sisodia had raised the issue of full statehood for Delhi at their first meeting with Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday.
Kejriwal had also met President Pranab Mukherjee and Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday.
Sources said the party has already started working on its vision for Delhi though it would officially take charge only after the swearing-in on Saturday. At a meeting with the chief secretary, DM Spolia, Kejriwal asked him to get all departments to make presentations on the status of projects, schemes and policies on February 19.
Sisodia, Patparganj MLA and a former minister, told TOI that the CS has also been asked to present an action plan to prevent any kind of shortage of power, water and vegetables during the summer months. “There is usually a crisis over power, water and vegetables during summer. We have asked the CS to ensure that adequate arrangements are in place,” he said.
After the swearing-in on Saturday, the government will be seen on course to deliver the promises made in the party manifesto. A citizen’s charter, an anti-corruption regime under Jan Lokpal and conversion of the MLA funds to Citizens Local Area Development Funds are likely to be on the priority list.
The AAP government is expected to give relief to Delhiites on power and water bills. Last time, a subsidy of 50% per unit was given to power consumers in the 0-400 units bracket and 20 kilolitres of water per month was supplied for free.
