No more Metro mania as AAP MLAs use cars, SUVs to reach Delhi assembly

NEW DELHI: The first day of the sixth assembly was in stark contrast to that of the 2014 House session. Unlike last time, when AAP was running a minority government and had only 28 MLAs, the party had many firsts on Monday. However, AAP legislators did not repeat the acts like wearing caps and taking the Metro to reach the assembly this time.

On the first day of the last assembly, AAP had set out on a mission to end the "VIP raj" by doing away with the red beacon on cars of ministers and officers and instead chose to travel in small cars, Metro train and shared vehicles. One AAP member even came in a broom-embellished e-rickshaw. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had come in his Blue WagonR without any police escort.

This time though the scene has changed. While Kejirwal stuck to his trademark trouser-shirt-sweater, his Blue wagonR was missing on Monday. One saw him sitting in an Innova led by a pilot car. This has been, by and large, his mode of travel since he took charge as CM.

Other MLAs were also seen alighting from cars and SUVs. Former minister Somnath Bharti was an exception—he told mediapersons that he came by Metro.

Even the AAP caps were missing this time with MLAs maintaining the protocol inside the House. In the last assembly, the Gandhi caps with taglines such as "mein aam aadmi hoon" and "mujhe swaraj chahiye" had stood out with all the 28 members wearing them even inside the House.

On January 1, 2014, there was a minor controversy after BJP pointed out that Kejirwal left the House after taking oath. This time too the CM and his deputy Manish Sisodia left the House while other MLAs were being administered the oath. They returned towards the end of the ceremony.

This time the story is, however, different as the Opposition has been reduced to a mere three from BJP and the ruling party with 67 MLAs is still basking in the glory of its spectacular victory.

Like last time, the visitors and the media galleries were chock-a-block with families and supporters of AAP MLAs. The flow of visitors was seen outside the House as well with many clapping and cheering for the newly-elected members.