Congress Faces Another Wipeout in Delhi as BJP, AAP Dominate Assembly Polls

The BJP’s Parvesh Verma, who secured a decisive victory over AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi, is being hailed as both a giant slayer and the biggest winner of the Delhi Assembly Election 2025.

Despite having only two months to prepare for the high-stakes battle against Kejriwal, Verma emerged victorious, marking a significant turnaround in his political career.

Previously left out of the BJP’s candidate list for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections despite being a two-time MP from West Delhi (2014-2024), Verma remained loyal to the party.

Instead of expressing disappointment, he refocused his efforts on the Delhi Assembly elections. By February 8, 2025, the leader who was once sidelined had risen as the most celebrated victor of the polls.

Credit to Leadership and Delhi’s Voters

Displaying the poise of a seasoned politician, Verma credited his victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of Delhi.

Speaking to India Today TV, Verma shared, “I was told just two months back that I needed to contest from New Delhi [Kejriwal’s seat],” shortly after Kejriwal conceded defeat.

Verma also signaled his intent to investigate allegations of corruption during Kejriwal’s tenure, stating, “A Special Investigation Team will be formed in the first Cabinet to probe all corruption during Kejriwal’s tenure.”

Verma won the New Delhi seat by a margin of 4,099 votes, defeating the three-time MLA and former Chief Minister. Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, finished third with 4,541 votes.

Parvesh Verma: A Legacy of Political Influence

The son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, Parvesh Verma began his political career as an MLA from Mehrauli before transitioning to Parliament.

Following the dissolution of the Delhi Assembly in 2013, he contested and won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from West Delhi and retained his seat in 2019.

Verma’s 2019 re-election saw him win with a record-breaking margin of 5.7 lakh votes, the highest in Delhi’s parliamentary election history.

However, in the 2024 general elections, the BJP replaced him with Kamaljeet Sehrawat, a leader from the Jat community, for the West Delhi seat.

Despite this setback, Verma remained committed to the party’s objectives. In March 2024, he stated, “There is no reason behind [the BJP] not giving me the ticket. This is our party, in which a worker can become CM and a tea seller can become PM. BJP gives opportunity to every worker.” His unwavering focus remained on securing a victory in the Delhi Assembly elections.

Positioning Himself as a CM Contender

Parvesh Verma aggressively led the BJP’s campaign in Delhi, highlighting governance issues under Kejriwal’s administration. He frequently criticized AAP’s handling of pollution, infrastructure, and public services.

He targeted the alleged misuse of resources, including the controversial expenses related to the Chief Minister’s official residence, dubbed the ‘Sheeshmahal’ controversy.

Additionally, Verma accused the AAP of negligence in addressing the Yamuna River’s pollution crisis.

By consistently challenging AAP policies and portraying himself as a formidable alternative, Verma positioned himself as a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s post. However, when asked directly about the CM race, he responded, “I will talk about it later.”

A Decisive BJP Victory

The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections marked a significant political shift, with the BJP securing 40 out of 70 seats and leading in another 8 constituencies, as per Election Commission data. In contrast, AAP, which had won 62 seats in 2020, suffered a substantial defeat.

Following the election results, Arvind Kejriwal conceded defeat, stating, “I congratulate the BJP for this victory and I hope they will fulfill all the promises for which people have voted them. We will not only play the role of a constructive opposition but will also remain among the people and continue to serve them.”

The BJP’s victory has ended its 26-year drought in Delhi politics, leaving many wondering if Verma will be awarded the Chief Minister’s position. As the dust settles, the political landscape in Delhi has undergone a profound transformation.