The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled its first list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, marking the start of an intense electoral battle. The list, which includes 29 candidates, features a mix of seasoned leaders and fresh faces ready to challenge the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the 70-member Delhi Assembly.
High-Profile Contest: Parvesh Verma vs. Arvind Kejriwal
In a move that has grabbed significant attention, BJP has fielded Parvesh Verma against AAP chief and current Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi assembly constituency. This head-to-head contest is expected to be a major highlight of the elections.
Delhi | BJP releases its first list of the candidates for #DelhiElection2025
Parvesh Verma to contest from New Delhi assembly seat against AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal; Dushyant Gautam from Karol Bagh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Garden, Kailash Gehlot from Bijwasan, Arvinder… pic.twitter.com/jcvaW418U8
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2025
Key Candidates and Their Constituencies
Apart from Verma, the BJP has announced candidates for several other key constituencies:
- Dushyant Gautam: Karol Bagh
- Manjinder Singh Sirsa: Rajouri Garden
- Kailash Gehlot: Bijwasan
- Arvinder Singh Lovely: Gandhi Nagar
Former MP Ramesh Bidhuri will challenge Delhi CM Atishi in Kalkaji. Ashish Sood has been nominated for Janakpuri, while former Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay will contest from Malviya Nagar.
Other BJP Candidates
The list also includes:
- Raj Kumar Bhatia: Adarsh Nagar
- Deepak Chaudhary: Badli
- Kulwant Rana: Rithala
- Manoj Shokeen: Nangloi Jat
- Rajkumar Chauhan: Mangolpuri
- Vijendra Gupta: Rohini
For constituencies such as Shalimar Bagh, Patel Nagar, RK Puram, and Mehrauli, the BJP has named Rekha Gupta, Raaj Kumar Anand, Anil Sharma, and Gajendra Yadav, respectively.
Candidates for Reserved and Minority-Dominated Seats
The BJP has strategically placed candidates in constituencies with diverse voter bases:
- Kushiram Chunar: Ambedkar Nagar
- Ravindra Singh Negi: Patparganj
- Om Prakash Sharma: Vishwas Nagar
- Anil Goyal: Krishna Nagar
- Kumari Rinku: Seemapuri
- Jitendra Mahajan: Rohtas Nagar
- Ajay Mahawar: Ghonda
AAP vs. BJP: Clash Over Voter Lists
As the campaign heats up, the BJP and AAP have found themselves embroiled in a conflict over allegations of voter list manipulation. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has accused the BJP of orchestrating “Operation Lotus” in his constituency by filing applications for the deletion of 5,000 voters and adding 7,500 new ones.
In a letter to the district electoral officer of New Delhi, Kejriwal wrote, “I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a significant rise in the number of voter addition and deletion applications received in the New Delhi assembly constituency over the past few days.”
During a press conference, Kejriwal reiterated his allegations, claiming the BJP was using underhanded tactics to influence the election outcome.
BJP’s Response to Kejriwal’s Allegations
BJP leader Vijender Gupta dismissed Kejriwal’s claims, accusing him of trying to create confusion among voters. Gupta told ANI, “Arvind Kejriwal is scared for the first time, he has realised that he is losing the Delhi Assembly elections. Therefore, he is making various statements and trying to create confusion in the minds of people.”
He further criticized Kejriwal, stating, “If the AAP supremo is occupied with his own assembly constituency so much that he can’t focus on other parts of the city, how will he lead the entire Delhi Assembly election?”
A Tight Contest Ahead
With both parties locking horns over issues and fielding strong candidates, the Delhi Assembly elections promise to be a fiercely contested battle. The BJP’s candidate list reflects its determination to unseat the AAP government, while the AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, is equally resolute in defending its stronghold. The elections are set to determine the political future of Delhi in 2025.
