The Aam Aadmi Party's Punjab Chief Minister-designate Bhagwant Mann on Saturday, 12 March, said that he will take oath at 12:30 pm on 16 March. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at native village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, the 48-year-old comedian-turned politician said outside the Raj Bhavan.
Mann met Punjab Governor or Banwarilal Purohit at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh earlier today, and staked claim to form the government.
Mann on Thursday won the Dhuri seat with a margin of 58,206 votes as AAP scored its maiden victory in the state by scooping up 92 seats in the 117-member Assembly. The Delhi-based party matched Punjab's 60-year record for the most seats won by a single party in the elections.
In his first directions to Aam Aadmi Party's new MLAs, Mann asked them to spend maximum time in their constituencies, not in capital Chandigarh, and don't hanker for cabinet berths.
"We have to work for all those places where we went to seek votes. All MLAs must work in the areas from where they have been elected, not just stay in Chandigarh," he said.
As part of the formalities ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Mann was elected leader of the AAP Legislative Party.
"We can have 17 cabinet ministers besides the Chief Minister. Nobody has to get upset. You are all cabinet ministers," he told the meeting of 92 MLAs.
"I appeal to all of you not to be arrogant. Work even for those who have not voted for you. You are the MLAs of the Punjabis. They have elected the government," he said.
On Friday, he visited party chief Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi and sought his blessings. He also invited the Delhi Chief Minister to the swearing-in ceremony.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)