New Delhi, 16 February 2025 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to announce its chief ministerial pick for Delhi on Monday, with all 48 newly elected MLAs meeting at 3 p.m. at the party’s state office to select their leader, ANI reported, citing sources.
The decision follows the BJP’s decisive victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, where it won 48 out of 70 seats, unseating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after a decade in power.
The AAP, which secured only 22 seats, saw several of its key leaders, including former CM Arvind Kejriwal, lose in their strongholds, though outgoing minister Atishi managed to retain her seat.
Meanwhile, the Congress, which governed Delhi for 15 years until 2013, once again failed to win a single seat.
BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok had earlier indicated that the announcement was imminent. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is returning tonight. A parliamentary board meeting will be held tomorrow or the day after, and Delhi’s new CM will be before you,” he said on Friday.
To facilitate discussions, the BJP will appoint observers to hold consultations with newly elected MLAs.
Among the frontrunners for the chief ministerial position are Parvesh Verma, who defeated Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat, as well as former Delhi BJP presidents Vijender Gupta and Satish Upadhyay.
However, the party leadership may also introduce a surprise candidate.
“You never know… The national leadership can come up with an altogether fresh face who fits the bill and is capable of discharging the duties as Delhi chief minister amid high expectations of the people,” a BJP leader told PTI.
