1,600 Delhi police personnel deployed for Kejriwal swearing-in ceremony

At least 1600 Delhi Police personnel have been deployed at the Ram Lila Ground for the swearing-in ceremony of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal will officially become Delhi's seventh chief minister shortly after noon today, and will be the youngest head of government in the national capital's history at age 45.

Delhi Police has issued a detailed traffic advisory.

Anil Shukla, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said in an advisory that a number of important dignitaries, general public and the media etc. are scheduled to attend the ceremony at designated time.

In this regard, he said elaborate security and traffic arrangements have been planned to ensure traffic circulation, pedestrians' movement, safety of visitors as well as that all the dignitaries and invitees reach the venue on the time and the function is held smoothly.

Due to the ceremony, traffic congestion is expected in the areas of New Delhi and Central Delhi.

The roads affected would be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today are Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, Asaf Ali Marg, Netaji Subash Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.

The public is advised to make maximum use of public transport, especially Delhi Metro.

Adequate traffic arrangements have been made to ensure proper traffic movement as far as possible.

Kejriwal's decision to use public transport echoes his pre-poll promise to end the VIP culture of Delhi's political elite and set a down-to-earth tone for his new administration.

The AAP, born out of the anti-corruption movement that swept India two years ago, has tapped into a rich vein of anger about everyday graft and scandals that have embroiled the national government.

Kejriwal will lead a minority administration after his party accepted support from the Congress party, which ended a distant third in the polls. He has been asked to prove his majority in a vote by January 3.

This is the second time a chief minister of Delhi will take oath at a public ceremony. In 1996, BJP leader Sahib Singh Verma was sworn in at a stadium.

CCTV cameras have been installed at more than 20 strategic locations and Delhi Police commandos and bomb squads will be deployed along with anti-riot police and vehicles at the venue.