Delhi’s next CM? BJP keeps cards close as Nadda meets party MLAs

Delhi: Newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators met party president JP Nadda at his office in Parliament on Tuesday, fueling speculation over who will be named the next chief minister of Delhi. While the meeting was officially termed a “courtesy call,” discussions continue over potential candidates for the top post. The BJP secured a decisive victory in the recently concluded Delhi Assembly elections, winning 48 out of 70 seats and bringing an end to its 27-year-long political exile in the Capital. However, the party contested the polls without a declared chief ministerial candidate, leaving room for intense speculation.

Who will be the next CM? Key contenders emerge

Several names are being considered for the position, including Parvesh Verma, who defeated former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency, along with Shalimar Bagh MLA Rekha Gupta, Greater Kailash MLA Shikha Roy, Rohini MLA Vijender Gupta, and Malviya Nagar’s Satish Upadhyay. Other potential candidates include Ashish Sood (Janakpuri), Pawan Sharma (Uttam Nagar), Kapil Mishra (Karawal Nagar), and Abhay Verma (Laxmi Nagar).

Despite these names doing the rounds, the BJP has a history of appointing unexpected faces as chief ministers, as seen in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, making it difficult to predict the party’s final choice for Delhi.

PM Modi to have final say on CM pick

A Delhi BJP leader revealed that the party's legislature wing is likely to meet only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his visit to France and the United States on February 14 or 15. The final decision on the CM candidate will be made by the top leadership following his return.

During the recent elections, Modi emphasized the BJP’s commitment to the “all-round development” of Delhi. Insiders suggest the party may prefer a leader with strong organizational skills to lead the state government.

Delhi BJP meeting to assess election performance

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, BJP’s election management committee—comprising Baijayant Panda, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, and the seven Delhi Lok Sabha MPs—will convene at the party’s Delhi office. The meeting will focus on evaluating the party’s electoral performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and strategizing for governance.

Party insiders also indicated that the new Delhi cabinet will aim for balanced representation, including leaders from Jat, Dalit, Purvanchali, Sikh, Pahari, and Baniya communities.