BJP’s Parliamentary Board to finalize selection process; newly-elected MLAs to meet at 7 PM to choose their leader.
February 19, 2025: Delhi’s New Chief Minister to Be Announced Today After Key BJP Meeting at PM’s Residence
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to announce Delhi’s new Chief Minister by this evening, marking its return to power in the national capital after 26 years. The selection process will begin at noon when the BJP’s Parliamentary Board—its highest decision-making body—meets to appoint observers for the crucial gathering of newly-elected legislators later today.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had been away on official visits to France and the United States, is expected to attend this pivotal meeting at the BJP’s Delhi headquarters. The elected MLAs will then convene at 7 PM to finalize their leader, who will take the oath as Chief Minister in a grand ceremony scheduled for 11 AM on Thursday at Ramlila Maidan.
Grand Oath-Taking Ceremony at Ramlila Maidan
According to sources, the oath-taking event will run from 11 AM to 12:34 PM, with the swearing-in ceremony set for 12:05 PM. The elaborate setup includes three separate stages:
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- One for PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, and the new Chief Minister.
- A second for religious leaders invited to the event.
- A third for MPs and MLAs, including over 200 BJP and ally leaders.
Among the invitees are outgoing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, AAP leader Atishi, and Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav.
Who Will Be Delhi’s New Chief Minister?
A shortlist of 15 names has been prepared from BJP’s 48 newly-elected MLAs, with top contenders including:
- Parvesh Verma – Former two-time MP and the frontrunner after his victory over Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency.
- Virendra Sachdeva – BJP’s Delhi unit president.
- Bansuri Swaraj – First-time MP and daughter of late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj.
- Satish Upadhyay – A strong Brahmin face in BJP’s Delhi unit.
There is also growing speculation that the BJP may opt for a woman Chief Minister, with Neelam Pahalwan, Rekha Gupta, Poonam Sharma, and Shikha Roy emerging as possible choices. Additionally, the party may take caste representation into account, as it did in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, before making a final decision.
BJP’s Stunning Comeback in Delhi
The suspense surrounding the next Chief Minister has been building since February 8, when BJP scripted a dramatic electoral victory, winning 48 out of 70 Assembly seats—a sharp contrast to its dismal performance in the past two elections.
The AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, suffered a major setback, securing just 22 seats, largely due to controversies surrounding the ‘sheeshmahal’ and liquor excise policy scandals. The Congress, once again, failed to make a mark, continuing its decline in Delhi politics.
With the stage set, Delhi is just hours away from its first BJP-led government in nearly three decades.
Tags:
Delhi Chief Minister, BJP, Narendra Modi, Delhi Elections, Arvind Kejriwal, AAP, Parvesh Verma, Bansuri Swaraj, Virendra Sachdeva, Ramlila Maidan