Chandigarh: Bhagwant Mann today took oath and became Punjab Chief Minister. The oath-taking ceremony was held at at Khatkar Kalan, freedom fighter Bhagat Singh’s village. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders were seen wearing “Basanti (yellow)” turbans during the ceremony.
Mann said that a golden chapter has been started. Now Punjab will witness progress. He said, “It would be ‘badhta (progressive) Punjab,’ rather than Udta Punjab.”
“I’m not here to diss anyone today. I am the Chief Minister of everyone in Punjab, even those who did not vote for our party,” he said.
The venue was full of Yellow turbans and scarves being scattered. In his video appeal the dress code was announced by Mann.
Addressing to the MLAs of his party, he said, “I appeal to you all to not get arrogant. We have to respect even those who didn’t vote for us.”
Quoting the legendary freedom fighter, Mann said, “Ishq karna sabka paidaishi haq hai kyun na is baar watan ki sarzamin ko mehboob bana liya jaye (love is our birth right. Why not make our motherland our love this time?),” Mann recited.
AAP witnessed a historic win in the State Elections this time. AAP won 92 out of 117 Assembly seats.
Soon after the results, Mann declared that he would take oath, not in the Governor’s House, but at Bhagat Singh’s village.
“Earlier, oath ceremonies used to take place in palaces. I have a special place for Bhagat Singh in my heart,” he told the gathering.
Besides the spot where the ceremony took place, a large area was cleared of wheat crops for use as parking space, say reports.
Mann, 48, is the youngest Chief Minister of the state since the 1970s. He resigned as Lok Sabha MP yesterday.
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