Kumar Bahukhandi
From Parvesh Verma To Bansuri Swaraj: Who Are In BJP’s Delhi CM Race?
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have not made an official announcement yet, several names are being discussed as possible contenders. Known for its strategic unpredictability in crucial state appointments, the BJP may deliver a surprise choice for the chief minister’s position.
New Delhi : As the Bharatiya Janata Party surpasses the halfway mark of 36 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections, speculation is mounting about who will be chosen as the Chief Minister of the national capital. Although party leaders have not made an official announcement yet, several names are being discussed as possible contenders. Known for its strategic unpredictability in crucial state appointments, the BJP may deliver a surprise choice for the chief minister’s position.
Who Will Be Delhi CM – Parvesh Verma or BJP’s Suprise Pick?
Parvesh Verma
Son of former Delhi chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, Parvesh Verma turned out to be a giant killer in the Delhi Assembly election, as he defeated Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency on Saturday, February 8.
Parvesh Verma was first elected to the Delhi assembly in 2013. He contested from the Mehrauli constituency then and defeated his Congress rival Yoganand Shastri, the incumbent Delhi Vidhan Sabha speaker at the time. Verma won the 2014 Lok Sabha election and became MP from the West Delhi constituency, which he retained in 2019.
Bansuri Swaraj
Elected as an MP just last year, Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of the late Sushma Swaraj, is quickly rising as a prominent leader of the BJP in Delhi. A lawyer by profession, she was appointed head of the Delhi BJP’s legal cell in 2023 and later nominated as the candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, replacing incumbent MP and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi.
Virendra Sachdeva
Virendra Sachdeva, BJP’s current Delhi president, did not participate in the Assembly elections but remains an influential leader within the party and a potential contender for the Chief Minister’s post. Upon his appointment as Delhi BJP president in 2023, Sachdeva emphasised that his primary goal is to eliminate AAP’s dominance in Delhi’s politics in both the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2025 Assembly elections.
Manoj Tiwari
Manoj Tiwari, the BJP MP from North-East Delhi and former president of the Delhi BJP, is a prominent contender for the Chief Minister’s post despite not contesting the Assembly elections this time. Known for his strong connection with Purvanchali voters, Tiwari enjoys immense popularity. His mass appeal has been further amplified by collaborations with Bollywood superstars, enhancing his public profile and visibility.
BJP’s Suprise Pick?
The BJP has a track record of selecting unexpected leaders for key roles. In 2023, the party surprised many by overlooking veteran leaders in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, choosing Mohan Yadav, Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Vishnu Deo Sai instead respectively.
These unconventional choices not only balanced caste and class dynamics but also introduced fresh leadership. Following the same strategy in Delhi, the BJP might opt for a lesser-known yet strategically significant candidate for the Chief Minister’s post.
Notably, twenty-seven years after ending up as second player to Congress, and then the AAP, the BJP is set to reclaim “dilli ki gaddi“. Latest Election Commission trends show the saffron party ahead in 47 of the 70 assembly seats and AAP in 23. Top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, including its boss Arvind Kejriwal and the party No.2, Manish Sisodia, have conceded defeat. Chief Minister Atishi and was the only saving grace for Aam Aadmi Party.
