BJP set to announce Delhi’s new CM: Women candidates in lead? What we know so far

Delhi: After securing a massive victory in the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is abuzz with discussions over who will take the reins as the next Chief Minister. With 48 out of 70 seats, the BJP has ended the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) dominance, reducing Arvind Kejriwal’s party to just 22 seats.

Will Delhi get a woman CM?

Speculation is rife that the BJP may opt for a woman candidate, selecting from its newly elected MLAs. If this happens, Delhi will see its fourth female CM, following Sushma Swaraj (BJP), Sheila Dikshit (Congress), and Atishi (AAP). Additionally, reports suggest that the party is considering appointing a deputy CM from a socially representative background, ensuring a diverse leadership team.

The BJP has several strong female leaders in contention for the top post:

• Rekha Gupta (Shalimar Bagh MLA) – National Vice President of BJP’s Women’s Wing, won with a 29,595-vote margin.
• Shikha Roy (Greater Kailash MLA) – Defeated AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj in a high-profile contest.
• Poonam Sharma (Wazirpur MLA) – Won by 11,425 votes.
• Neelam Pehalwan (Najafgarh MLA) – Secured a massive victory with 1,01,708 votes.
• Smriti Irani – Former Union Minister, despite her loss in Amethi, remains a high-profile contender.
• Bansuri Swaraj – Daughter of late Sushma Swaraj, won from New Delhi Lok Sabha seat.
• Other Probable Candidates

While a woman candidate is a strong possibility, other prominent names in the CM race include:

• Vijender Gupta (Rohini MLA)
• Ajay Mahawar (Ghonda MLA)
• Abhay Verma (Laxmi Nagar MLA)
• Kapil Mishra – Former AAP minister turned BJP leader.
• Parvesh Verma – Who made headlines by defeating Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi.

BJP’s decision timeline & swearing-in ceremony

The final call on the next CM will be made by the BJP’s central leadership. Reports indicate that the swearing-in ceremony will take place once PM Narendra Modi returns from his US visit. The BJP is planning a grand event to celebrate its return to power, with chief ministers from all NDA-ruled states expected to attend. With Delhi’s unique governance challenges, the new BJP CM will need to work closely with neighboring BJP-ruled states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on key issues like transport, infrastructure, and water supply.