New Delhi, February 16: The newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in Delhi will meet on Monday, February 17 at the Delhi BJP State Office to finalize their choice for the Chief Minister post. All party MLAs have been formally notified about the meeting.
The Delhi Assembly elections were held on February 5, with results declared on February 8. The BJP secured a decisive victory, winning 48 out of 70 seats, reclaiming power in Delhi after 27 years. Notably, the party did not project a CM candidate before the elections. With the current assembly's term ending on February 23, the swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place before that, possibly on February 18 at the Ramlila Ground, as per sources.
The election was a direct contest between the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with AAP managing only 22 seats this time. Several prominent AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Saurabh Bhardwaj, and Satyendra Jain, faced defeat.
Among the frontrunners for the CM position, Parvesh Verma stands out, having gained prominence after defeating AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency. Other strong contenders include Satish Upadhyay, a former Delhi BJP president, and Ashish Sood, known as the Punjabi face of BJP in Delhi. Jitendra Mahajan and Vijender Gupta are also in the running, while former Delhi Mayor and first-time MLA Rekha Gupta is being considered if the party opts for a female candidate.
The final decision will be announced after Monday’s meeting, setting the stage for BJP’s leadership in the national capital.
