NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, fielding prominent leaders in key constituencies. Among the most notable announcements, BJP has pitted Parvesh Verma against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency.
The list features 29 candidates for the 70-member assembly. Former Member of Parliament Ramesh Bidhuri will contest from Kalkaji, taking on Chief Minister Atishi. In Karol Bagh, Dushyant Gautam has been named as the party’s candidate, while Manjinder Singh Sirsa will represent BJP in Rajouri Garden. Kailash Gehlot will contest from Bijwasan, and Arvinder Singh Lovely has been fielded in Gandhi Nagar. Delhi | BJP releases its first list of the candidates for #DelhiElection2025
Parvesh Verma to contest from New Delhi assembly seat against AAP's Arvind Kejriwal; Dushyant Gautam from Karol Bagh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Garden, Kailash Gehlot from Bijwasan, Arvinder… pic.twitter.com/jcvaW418U8
Other key candidates include Ashish Sood in Janakpuri, former Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay in Malviya Nagar, and Vijendra Gupta in Rohini. Rekha Gupta will contest from Shalimar Bagh, Raj Kumar Anand from Patel Nagar, and Gajendra Yadav from Mehrauli.
The BJP has also announced candidates for constituencies with significant voter bases, including Kushiram Chunar in Ambedkar Nagar, Ravindra Singh Negi in Patparganj, and Om Prakash Sharma in Vishwas Nagar.
Kejriwal Accuses BJP of Voter Manipulation
As election campaigns intensify, a war of words has erupted between the AAP and BJP. AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate voter lists in the New Delhi constituency.
In a letter to the district electoral officer dated December 28, Kejriwal highlighted an "unusual spike" in voter addition and deletion applications. During a press conference, he alleged that since December 15, BJP has been running an "Operation Lotus" in his constituency, claiming 5,000 votes had been targeted for deletion and 7,500 votes added.
“This is a blatant attempt to undermine the democratic process,” Kejriwal said, urging the Election Commission to take immediate action.
BJP Responds, Accuses Kejriwal of Fearmongering
BJP leader Vijender Gupta dismissed Kejriwal's allegations as baseless, accusing the AAP chief of creating confusion among voters.
“Arvind Kejriwal is clearly panicking. For the first time, he senses defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections,” Gupta told ANI. He added that Kejriwal’s focus on his own constituency raises questions about his ability to lead the AAP’s overall campaign in Delhi.
Political Climate Ahead of Elections
The Delhi Assembly elections come against the backdrop of AAP's landslide victory in 2020, where the party secured 62 out of 70 seats. This time, however, the BJP is intensifying efforts to reclaim the capital, with both parties engaging in heated exchanges as they vie for public support.
Observers note that the upcoming elections could redefine the political landscape of Delhi, with voter turnout and the credibility of allegations playing a pivotal role in the final outcome.
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