By The Sampadak Express
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured power in Delhi after a 27-year gap, is set to elect the next Chief Minister of the national capital at a meeting of its elected MLAs on February 19. The new legislative party leader will take the oath of office on February 20 at Ramlila Maidan.
After a resounding victory in the recently held assembly elections, where the BJP clinched 48 out of 70 seats, the party formed the government in Delhi by defeating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, there is still suspense surrounding the party’s chief ministerial pick, as an official announcement has yet to be made.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be a grand affair, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, NDA leaders, Union ministers, and other prominent figures in attendance.
Several newly elected MLAs from the BJP are emerging as contenders for the role of chief minister and other ministerial positions. Here’s a look at some of the frontrunners:
Parvesh Verma
Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, born on November 7, 1977, is the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma. Verma gained national attention in the 2025 Delhi assembly elections when he defeated AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency, securing a margin of 4,089 votes.
A seasoned politician, Parvesh Verma first entered Delhi politics in 2013 and later made a successful transition to national politics by winning the West Delhi Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and 2019 with a substantial margin. His victory in the assembly polls further cemented his position as a key player in the BJP’s Delhi strategy.
Vijender Gupta
Vijender Gupta, born on August 14, 1963, is a well-established figure in the Delhi BJP. An alumnus of Shri Ram College of Commerce, he has served as a three-time councillor from Rohini and previously as the Delhi BJP president. Gupta secured his third consecutive victory in the 2025 Delhi assembly elections from the Rohini constituency, defeating AAP’s Pradeep Mittal by a massive margin of 37,816 votes.
Satish Upadhyay
Satish Upadhyay, a veteran BJP leader with decades of experience in Delhi politics, has played a crucial role in party activities in the capital. He was previously the president of the Delhi BJP. In the 2025 elections, Upadhyay emerged victorious from the Malviya Nagar constituency, defeating AAP’s Somnath Bharti, signaling a significant shift in a traditionally AAP-dominated area.
Virendra Sachdeva
Virendra Sachdeva, who became the president of Delhi BJP in March 2023, is another potential contender. Under his leadership, the party strategized for the 2025 assembly elections and succeeded in breaking the AAP’s stronghold in Delhi. Sachdeva has emphasized that the central leadership will make the final decision on the chief ministerial candidate. Apart from politics, he is also the secretary general of the Archery Association of India and vice president of the Delhi Olympics.
Harish Khurana
Harish Khurana, the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, made his debut in the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, contesting from Moti Nagar. Khurana, a seasoned party spokesperson, leveraged his political lineage and deep ties within the Delhi BJP to clinch victory against AAP’s Shivcharan Goel.
Other Notable Contenders
Other influential leaders in the party include:
1. Pawan Sharma, 2. Ashish Sood, 3. Rekha Gupta, 4. Shikha Rai, 5. Ravinder Indraj Singh, 6. Kailash Gangwal
There is also speculation that the BJP might opt for a “dark horse” candidate among the newly elected MLAs, similar to the surprise picks seen in states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
As the date for the official announcement nears, all eyes are on the BJP leadership to see who will take the reins as Delhi’s next Chief Minister.
