AAP likely to stake claim on Monday

 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal may tell Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung on Monday that he would take oath as chief minister on Christmas day at the Ram Lila Maidan or Jantar Mantar.

The party’s meetings to elicit public opinion on government formation continued on Saturday.
Sources said the AAP may also seek to reword the designation of chief minister to ‘Mukh Jan Sevak’ (chief public servant) and of ministers to ‘jan sevaks’ (public servant).

Sources in Raj Niwas said the AAP had still not sought any time from the LG secretariat for a meeting on Monday. “The time can even be taken on Monday morning,” said a senior official in the secretariat.

Meanwhile, four public meetings were held in Patparganj constituency of AAP spokesman and legislator Manish Sisodia and the second public interaction in two days was held in legislator Somnath Bharti’s Malviya Nagar constituency. According to Sisodia, the trend in the public response showed that supporters of the AAP were largely in favour of the party forming the next government.

“If things go on the same way, the AAP will definitely form the government,” said party leader Manish Sisodia. “More meetings are lined up for Sunday,” said a member of Sisodia’s team, while the leader, who is likely to get a cabinet berth in the Kejriwal-led government, hurriedly returned to a meeting.

“Sunday evening will be used to put together the findings of public meetings and opinion of respondents received through SMSes and web,” he said.

“The party’s decision on whether it will form the government will be conveyed to the LG on Monday,” he said. Party sources said they had informally informed all the legislators about the possibility of Kejriwal’s oath taking at a public place. “Each legislator is expected to bring as many supporters as possible to the oath-taking ceremony,” said a party leader who indicated that almost a lakh supporters may converge on the venue for the ceremony.

“The oath-taking ceremony may last about 20 minutes only with Jung presiding over the event,” said a Raj Niwas source.