AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, cabinet minister Rakhi Birla ride hep new wheels

NEW DELHI: It would have been just another group photo of outgoing Delhi legislators in the Vidhan Sabha grounds but as members of the fifth House trooped in on Friday, attention was pinned on Aam Aadmi Party's MLAs. The show of simplicity with which they had started their 49-day stint in the assembly in January was missing this time. Instead of taking the Metro, as they had done then to the great inconvenience of common people, many arrived in SUVs.

Even party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who had resolutely used his blue WagonR against the advice of police while in office, came in a Toyota Innova. His cabinet minister Rakhi Birla, who commuted to work in autos in the unbearable cold of January, also arrived in an Innova. Only former law minister Somnath Bharti came by Metro. A controversial figure, he used the Metro even while in government.

Education minister in the AAP government, Manish Sisodia, drove down in his Swift car. One AAP MLA emerged from a Toyota Fortuner, an other from a Mitsubishi Pajero and a third from a Mahindra Bolero, sources said.While their vehicles drew remarks from MLAs from other parties, the talking point was AAP's Trilokpuri MLA Raju Dhingan, who came in a Maruti SX4. Dhingan was unemployed before the elections.

Soon after the MLAs arrived, a power game played out in the lawns with everybody trying to turn the seating arrangement into a political opportunity . Congress MLA from Okhla, Asif Mohd Khan, cleverly planted Kejriwal next to AAP rebel and Laxmi Nagar MLA Vinod Kumar Binny. Binny's discomfiture showed as he shook Kejriwal's proffered hand.

Order was restored only after the photographer reminded Kejriwal that his place was beside Speaker M S Dhir, in keeping with protocol. Before the gathering broke up, Kejriwal and BJP's Jagdish Mukhi also came face to face and shook hands. Kejirwal has been attacking Mukhi and has unilaterally declared him his rival for the CM's post from BJP .

Kejriwal said he is keen to re-contest from New Delhi but will accept party's decision.