BJP Releases First List of Candidates for Delhi Assembly Elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, naming contenders for 29 out of the 70 constituencies. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already released its full list of candidates. The elections are scheduled to take place in February.

One of the most high-profile contests will take place in the New Delhi seat, where former BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma is set to challenge AAP convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Speaking about his candidacy, Verma said, "I thank my party's top leadership and hope to live up to the trust they have shown in me. When Delhi was battling COVID-19, Arvind Kejriwal was distributing 'free bottles on every bottle.' Key issues like cleaning the Yamuna and tackling pollution remain unresolved. The BJP will prioritize these once in power."

In Bijwasan, former AAP leader and Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot, who recently joined the BJP, will contest as the party's candidate.

In the Kalkaji constituency, BJP has fielded Ramesh Bidhuri, a former MP from South Delhi, against Chief Minister Atishi. Congress has nominated Alka Lamba for the seat. Bidhuri, who was denied a ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, expressed confidence, saying, "I thank the BJP leadership for trusting me to reclaim Kalkaji. Delhi is suffering under Arvind Kejriwal, and the people of Kalkaji have faced 'AAPda' under Chief Minister Atishi."

Arvinder Singh Lovely, a former minister in Sheila Dikshit's cabinet, will contest from the Gandhinagar constituency in East Delhi. Lovely had left Congress last year to join BJP.

AAP has been in power in Delhi since 2015, winning consecutive Assembly elections with large majorities. However, the party has struggled in national elections, failing to win a single Lok Sabha seat since 2014. The BJP has maintained dominance in parliamentary polls, securing all seven seats in Delhi.

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