New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unveiled its second list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, scheduled for February 2025, marking a significant shift in its electoral strategy. In a surprising turn, Manish Sisodia, who has been a prominent figure in the party and served as Deputy Chief Minister, will now contest from the Jangpura constituency instead of his long-held seat in Patparganj. This decision is seen as a major gamble by the party leadership.Manish Sisodias relocation to Jangpura signals a strategic pivot, noted political analysts, highlighting that he has been an MLA from Patparganj since 2013 and has previously secured substantial victories in both the 2013 and 2015 elections. However, his performance in the 2020 elections was less commanding, winning by a narrow margin, which may have prompted this change12.New faces and shifting seats: AAPs candidate line-upIn this reshuffle, educator Avadh Ojha has been nominated to represent Patparganj after recently joining the party. His background as a popular educator and YouTuber could appeal to younger voters and those seeking fresh representation. Avadh Ojhas candidacy is expected to invigorate the partys campaign in Patparganj, experts say, noting his potential to attract new supporters67.Another notable candidate on AAPs list is Rakhi Bidlan, currently serving as the Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly. She will now contest from Madipur, stepping away from her current seat in Mangolpuri, which will be contested by Rakesh Jatav Dharamrakshak. This move reflects AAPs intent to diversify its candidate pool while retaining experienced leaders in new constituencies34.The full list of candidates announced includes:Narela: Dinesh BhardwajTimarpur: Surender Pal Singh BittuAdarsh Nagar: Mukesh GoelMundka: Jasbir KaralaRohini: Pradeep MittalChandni Chowk: Punardeep Singh SawhneyPatel Nagar: Parvesh RatanJanakpuri: Pravin KumarBijwasan: Surender BharadwajPalam: Joginder SolankiDeoli: Prem Kumar ChauhanTrilokpuri: Anjana ParchaKrishna Nagar: Vikas BaggaGandhi Nagar: Naveen ChoudharyShahdara: Jitender Singh ShuntyMustafabad: Adil Ahmad KhanBoth Jitender Singh Shunty and Parvesh Ratan are newcomers to AAP, having switched from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which remains the main opposition party in Delhi with only eight seats in the assembly compared to AAPs 62.A history of power and challenges aheadSince coming to power in December 2013—barring a brief period of Presidents rule—the AAP has dominated Delhi politics. The upcoming elections will be critical for maintaining their stronghold amid changing political dynamics and voter sentiments. As they prepare for the February polls, AAPs strategic candidate placements suggest a calculated approach to reclaiming lost ground and reinforcing their governance narrative56. With these bold moves, AAP is setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested election season in Delhi.
