Kejriwal, Sandeep Dikshit, and likely Parvesh Verma vying for dominance.
New Delhi: The New Delhi Assembly seat is set to witness a fierce triangular political contest in the upcoming assembly elections between major political parties. All parties, including, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have launched their campaigns and are actively engaging with voters through sharing their ideas of different welfare schemes and initiatives.
Since its creation during the 2008 delimitation, the New Delhi Assembly seat has been a stepping stone for several chief ministers. This constituency holds immense political significance, as it encompasses the Parliament, the central government offices, foreign embassies, and international institutions, making it a seat of power in more ways than one.
This time around the New Delhi Assembly seat is set to witness an intense contest as AAP has fielded its national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, to reclaim his stronghold. Meanwhile, the Congress has nominated Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, to challenge Kejriwal. And, Parvesh Verma is expected to represent the BJP in this battle, although his candidacy has not yet been officially announced.
Kejriwal’s decision to contest again from the New Delhi seat is set to reignite a historic rivalry in a constituency that witnessed his landmark victories over Sheila Dikshit in 2013 and 2015. For Sandeep Dikshit, this election is about more than just politics—it is an opportunity to restore his family’s legacy and settle old scores. Since entering politics, Kejriwal has maintained a strong rapport with voters in the New Delhi Assembly seat, a bond reflected in his electoral success. He first won the seat in 2013 by defeating then-Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, securing 54% of the votes. He went on to solidify his hold on the constituency in 2015, defeating Congress’s Kiran Walia and BJP’s Nupur Sharma with a resounding 64% vote share. In 2020, his vote share dipped slightly to 61%, but he still emerged victorious.
AAP remains confident that its leader will continue his winning streak in 2025, with Kejriwal frequently acknowledging the support of the constituency’s voters, saying, “They are the ones who have made me win.” The party believes Kejriwal’s deep connection with the constituency will once again deliver a decisive victory.
A senior Congress leader revealed that Sandeep Dikshit is being positioned as the party’s Chief Ministerial face. Given his legacy as the son of Sheila Dikshit, the leader emphasised that Sandeep is not contesting merely to become an MLA but to reclaim his family’s political stature. However, the final decision on the CM face, the leader noted, rests with the party’s high command. Sandeep has been a vocal critic of the AAP government since it unseated the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government in 2013. He has consistently targeted AAP on various issues, including the alleged misuse of the now-defunct Feedback Unit (FBU), which was operational briefly after AAP’s 2015 victory.
The BJP, like Congress, is determined to end its consecutive losses in the Delhi Assembly by defeating AAP. The party has ramped up its efforts, focusing its campaign on exposing the alleged misgovernance of the ruling party. Sources within the BJP indicate that Parvesh Verma has already begun preparations for the contest. Despite being denied a Lok Sabha ticket, Verma reportedly received Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal encouragement to challenge Kejriwal. According to party insiders, the Prime Minister spoke to Verma earlier this month, urging him to gear up for the electoral battle. Verma himself has hinted at his candidacy, stating that he has been asked to prepare for the New Delhi seat, even though the party has yet to make an official announcement.
Sanjay Kumar, a noted psephologist, stated, “Arvind Kejriwal definitely has an edge in this contest, as he has never lost an assembly election in New Delhi since 2013. While there might be a slight dip in his popularity due to recent allegations, Kejriwal remains a highly popular leader.”