The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has officially unveiled its fourth and final list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, slated for January 2025. With the city’s political future at stake, AAP has fielded a mix of seasoned leaders and new faces, with some significant changes to its roster. Among the most high-profile candidates, AAP's National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the current Chief Minister of Delhi, will contest from the New Delhi constituency, a seat that has come to symbolize the party’s rise in Delhi politics. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who has earned recognition for her work in governance, will once again contest from Kalkaji, a constituency she has represented in the past. Meanwhile, Saurabh Bharadwaj, a trusted AAP leader, will represent the party from the politically significant Greater Kailash constituency.
In a notable move, AAP has replaced its current MLA from Kasturba Nagar, Madan Lal, with Ramesh Pehlwan, a former BJP member who recently joined AAP. Ramesh Pehlwan's entry into the party, along with his wife Kusum Lata, who is a councilor, marks a strategic shift for AAP, which continues to attract leaders from rival parties, including the BJP. The selection of Pehlwan, a new face in the party, indicates AAP’s intent to offer fresh leadership in constituencies where the current MLAs may not have lived up to party expectations. Other prominent names on the final list include Gopal Rai, who will contest from Babarpur, Amanatullah Khan from Okhla, and Satyendra Kumar Jain from Shakur Basti, further strengthening the party’s hold on these key constituencies.
One of the most closely watched contests in this election is in the New Delhi constituency, where Arvind Kejriwal faces Sandeep Dikshit, the son of the late Sheila Dikshit, a former Chief Minister of Delhi who had served for three terms. This election marks a historic and emotionally charged rematch between Kejriwal and the Dikshit family. In the 2013 and 2015 Delhi elections, Kejriwal famously defeated Sheila Dikshit, signaling the arrival of a new political force in the city. Sandeep Dikshit’s candidacy brings with it the legacy of his mother, a legacy he aims to reclaim and build upon. For Sandeep, this election represents more than just a contest for power—it is a chance to restore his family’s political influence in a constituency that was once considered a Congress stronghold.
As part of its efforts to refresh its leadership lineup, AAP has also made the controversial decision to deny tickets to 20 of its sitting MLAs, signaling a desire to inject new blood into the party’s ranks. Some of these MLAs have been replaced by family members, indicating a trend of dynastic political participation within the party. For example, Vikas Bagga, the son of SK Bagga, has been fielded from Krishna Nagar, while Puran Deep Sahni, the son of Prahlad Sahni, will contest from Chandni Chowk. Additionally, Pooja Balyan, the wife of Naresh Balyan, has been given the party ticket for Uttam Nagar. This move has drawn some criticism from political observers, as it raises questions about whether AAP is straying from its anti-dynastic rhetoric, but it also highlights the party’s willingness to involve its leaders' families in maintaining their political presence.
AAP's candidate selection strategy has been carefully calibrated to cater to both grassroots workers and strategic political considerations. In its first list, six out of the 11 nominees were leaders who had joined AAP from the BJP and Congress, with three representatives from each of the rival parties. The second list, however, saw the party make sweeping changes, dropping 15 sitting MLAs and replacing them with individuals who had shown active involvement within the AAP organization. This reflects the party's effort to field candidates with strong organizational roots, in contrast to traditional political parties that often rely on established names or dynasty politics.
After the announcement of the final list, Arvind Kejriwal expressed confidence in AAP’s ability to secure victory in the upcoming elections. On social media, Kejriwal criticized the BJP for lacking a clear vision for Delhi's future, emphasizing that the BJP had no Chief Ministerial candidate and no concrete plans to address the city’s pressing issues. He remarked that the BJP’s sole focus seemed to be removing Kejriwal from office, a stance that he believes is unlikely to resonate with the voters of Delhi. Kejriwal reiterated that AAP’s campaign would focus on development, citing the party's achievements over the past ten years in areas like education, healthcare, electricity, and water supply.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also took to social media after the list’s release, asserting that AAP’s victory was inevitable given the party’s strong record in governance. Sisodia emphasized that Delhi's progress in sectors such as education and healthcare under Kejriwal’s leadership was unparalleled, and the party would continue to work toward further improvements. He expressed confidence that Delhi voters would choose a leader who had a proven track record over a party that offered little in terms of vision or leadership.
AAP’s decision to contest the Delhi Assembly elections solo, without forming alliances, mirrors the strategy it employed during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The party’s leadership is confident that its governance track record, coupled with its strong grassroots outreach, will be enough to defend its position in the city. As the political temperature in Delhi rises, all eyes will be on the fierce contest for New Delhi constituency, where Arvind Kejriwal faces a politically charged rematch with the Dikshit family. The results of this election are likely to have significant implications not only for Delhi’s future but also for the broader political landscape in India.
