The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), fresh off a historic victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, is set to finalize its choice for Chief Minister after a 27-year gap in ruling the capital. The much-anticipated decision will be made during a legislative party meeting scheduled for Monday, February 17, with the swearing-in ceremony likely to take place on either February 19 or 20. While Ramlila Maidan and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium are being considered as venues for the grand event, final confirmation is awaited from party leaders.
The suspense over who will lead Delhi’s new BJP government remains, with several names in contention for the top post. Parvesh Verma, who secured a major victory by defeating Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, is one of the frontrunners. Other strong contenders include Ashish Sood, a BJP general secretary with close ties to the party’s central leadership; Rekha Gupta, a prominent woman leader who could become Delhi’s first female Chief Minister; Vijender Gupta, a senior party veteran and former Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly; Satish Upadhyay, a Brahmin leader and former BJP state president; and Jitendra Mahajan, a prominent RSS-backed leader from the Vaishya community. Another potential dark horse is Shikha Roy, who gained attention after defeating AAP heavyweight Saurabh Bharadwaj in Greater Kailash.
BJP sources have hinted at the possibility of selecting a fresh face for the Chief Minister's role, possibly breaking away from conventional choices. Speculation is also rife about whether the party leadership will opt for a woman candidate, given its recent push for greater representation of women in leadership roles. Meanwhile, the party has shortlisted 15 MLAs for key ministerial posts, and, likely, the new government will not have a Deputy Chief Minister.
The BJP’s landslide victory in the recently concluded elections saw it secure 48 out of 70 seats, a remarkable comeback after being in the opposition for nearly three decades. The AAP, which had been in power for over 10 years, was reduced to just 22 seats, marking a significant decline for Arvind Kejriwal’s party. The election results were seen as a major setback for the AAP, which had previously dominated Delhi’s political landscape with its welfare policies and governance model.
Following the BJP’s victory, high-level deliberations have been taking place in Delhi, with senior party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda, involved in discussions to finalize the next Chief Minister. The decision is expected to be made in consultation with the party’s legislative members, ensuring a consensus candidate is chosen.
As anticipation builds, the BJP is preparing for a smooth transition of power, with a focus on key governance priorities such as infrastructure development, law and order, and urban planning. The party’s return to power is expected to bring significant changes in governance, with emphasis on its national policies aligning with the central government’s vision for development.
The official announcement regarding the Chief Minister’s appointment is expected soon, setting the stage for the next chapter in Delhi’s political landscape.
