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BJP’s Shalimar Bagh MLA Rekha Gupta will take oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi, along with the Council of Ministers at the Ramlila Maidan on Thursday.
The event comes after the BJP Legislature Party on Wednesday evening elected her as its leader, paving way for the Shalimar Bagh MLA to become the fourth woman CM of the Capital.
The swearing-in ceremony is likely to be attended by top BJP leaders, including chief ministers from the party-ruled states, sources said.
The Ramlila Maidan, which can accommodate around 30,000 people, was being spruced up on Monday with its boundary walls getting a fresh coat of paint and workers cleaning the sprawling ground, and the pavements and roads around it.
“The layout of the tents, including a VIP block for dignitaries, is being finalised. Around one lakh people are expected to be inside and outside the venue to celebrate the BJP’s victory in Delhi after 26 years,” a source said.
The BJP returned to power in Delhi after more than 26 years by sweeping the recent Assembly polls, the results of which were announced on February 8.
Gupta beat several MLAs like Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood and Vijender Gupta for the post of chief minister.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi will embark on a two-day visit to his Parliamentary constituency from Thursday, Congress leaders said.
During his stay, he will participate in various programs and hold meetings with party office-bearers and workers.
According to the itinerary released by district Congress president Pankaj Tiwari, Gandhi will enter the district by road from Lucknow airport. At 10:30 am, he will interact with workers of the Bachhrawan assembly constituency at Balaji Marriage Lawn. Following this, he will meet students at Mool Bharatiya Hostel in Civil Lines at 12 noon.
He will then participate in a women’s dialogue program at Sahkari Sangh Limited in Uttarpara at 1 pm and also unveil a statue and address a gathering at Ranabeni Madhav Singh Memorial Inter College in Shankarpur, Jagatpur. Subsequently, he will proceed to Bhueamau Guest House where he will be staying.
On Thursday evening, he will hold a meeting with party leaders and workers at the guest house.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will meet his party MLAs on Thursday amid talk of desertions.
The meeting with MLAs is scheduled on Thursday, while the meeting of MPs will take place on February 25, Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has been hit by functionaries from the Konkan region quitting, including former Rajapur MLA Rajan Salvi, who joined the rival Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Over the past few days, Guhagar MLA Bhaskar Jadhav has also been making public his resentment about party affairs. The Sena (UBT) has nine MPs and 20 MLAs.
– With PTI inputs
