As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prepares to name the next Chief Minister of Delhi following the party's victory in the February 8 Assembly elections, there is growing anticipation about who will replace outgoing Chief Minister Atishi from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The BJP, having secured 48 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, ended AAP's 27-year hold on the capital, and now, the party is set to announce its candidate on Wednesday, February 19. The chosen leader will take office following the oath-taking ceremony on February 20.
The race for the top post within the BJP has been narrowing down to a few contenders, including Parvesh Verma, Rekha Gupta, Vijender Gupta, Satish Upadhyay, Ashish Sood, and Jitender Mahajan. While all these leaders bring experience and political insight, the selection process is also being guided by factors such as social media presence, public opinion, and internal party dynamics.
One of the most striking developments since the election results has been the surge in social media followings for the leading candidates. Parvesh Verma, in particular, has seen the highest growth in followers. His Instagram following grew by over 80,000, and his X (formerly Twitter) account saw an increase of nearly 18,000 followers. This social media momentum underscores his popularity and visibility as a prominent face in the BJP's Delhi leadership. Verma’s rise in digital engagement suggests a growing connection with both the party's base and potential voters.
Rekha Gupta, who secured a victory in the Shalimar Bagh constituency, has also experienced a notable boost in her social media presence. Gupta gained 632 followers on X and 975 followers on Instagram. Her growing digital footprint has made her one of the most-discussed figures in the race for Chief Minister. Not only is she being mentioned frequently on social platforms, but her search interest has also spiked, signaling her increasing prominence.
Other candidates, such as Vijender Gupta, Satish Upadhyay, and Ashish Sood, have seen modest increases in their social media followers. Vijender Gupta added 416 followers on X, while Satish Upadhyay gained 477 followers. Ashish Sood, too, saw a notable surge, adding 420 followers on X and 1,054 on Instagram. Despite this growth, these figures still fall behind the social media engagement seen by Verma and Rekha Gupta.
Among all the candidates, Rekha Gupta has stood out for dominating online discussions. According to analytics from Talkwalker, Gupta has been mentioned in over 2,300 posts on X in the past week, making her the most talked-about potential candidate. Parvesh Verma, while trailing behind with 1,600 mentions, continues to maintain a strong digital presence. Other contenders like Vijender Gupta, Satish Upadhyay, and Ashish Sood were mentioned less frequently, with mentions in 844, 518, and 335 posts, respectively.
In addition to social media analytics, search engine data has provided another interesting glimpse into the rising interest in these political figures. For the first four days after the election results, Parvesh Verma was the most searched among BJP leaders on Google. However, in the last two days, Rekha Gupta’s search interest has overtaken Verma’s, indicating a growing curiosity about her candidacy and her potential to lead Delhi.
The BJP leadership is set to convene on Wednesday, February 19, to finalize its choice for the Chief Minister. J P Nadda, the party’s national president, has expressed confidence that the decision will be made quickly, noting that the leadership team could finalize the candidate in a matter of minutes during their meeting. Along with the Chief Ministerial pick, the party will also select ministers and the Speaker from a shortlist of 15 candidates. BJP insiders have revealed that nine names will be chosen for key posts in the state cabinet and legislative assembly.
The BJP's victory marks a significant shift in Delhi's political landscape, as the AAP’s long-standing dominance of the city’s politics is brought to an end. While the BJP is poised to take control, much is still to be decided regarding the leadership structure and how the party plans to govern the capital in the coming years. The newly-elected MLAs will play a pivotal role in determining the direction of the BJP's governance, and their decision on the Chief Minister will have lasting implications for the party's fortunes in Delhi.
As the date for the announcement approaches, speculation continues to swirl regarding which leader will be chosen to lead Delhi's political transformation. The stakes are high, not just for the BJP but for the future of Delhi, as the national capital now faces the challenge of a new political chapter. The decision will set the tone for how the BJP will manage its mandate and its engagement with voters in a city that has long been a political battleground.
