Sheila Dikshit to take oath as Delhi chief minister

NEW DELHI: Sheila Dikshit, who led the Congress party to a record third victory in assembly elections in Delhi, will be sworn in on Wednesday as chief minister, party sources said. 

The 71-year-old leader, along with her six cabinet ministers, will be administered the oath by Lt Governor Tejendera Khanna Wednesday, an aide to Dikshit said.

Dikshit will be sworn in, as the Delhi chief minister for a record third time. She began her first term as chief minister in 1998, and the second in 2003.     

According to Congress sources, the swearing in ceremony had been postponed from Monday to Wednesday due to delay in finalising the cabinet ministers. Dikshit had held talks with Congress' central leadership on Thursday on the issue.

The Election Commission had notified the constitution of the Delhi assembly on Thursday, paving the way for formation of the new government.

The Congress won 42 seats in the 70-member Delhi assembly, while the BJP had to be content with 23 seats. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won two seats, while the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) bagged one.