Parvesh Verma’s victory over Arvind Kejriwal paved the way for BJP’s return to power in Delhi.
New Delhi: Senior BJP leader and New Delhi constituency candidate Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma has proven his worth to the party by emerging as a giant killer in the Delhi Assembly elections. With his triumph, Verma has paved the way for the BJP to return to power in the Delhi Assembly after a 27-year-long exile. His remarkable victory over former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has positioned him as the frontrunner for the chief ministerial post.
Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, fought one of the most challenging electoral battles in the New Delhi Assembly constituency. He contested against AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, securing a decisive victory by a margin of 4,089 votes. Verma garnered 30,088 votes, while Kejriwal managed 25,999 votes. The Congress, once again struggling to regain its lost ground, saw its candidate Sandeep Dikshit receiving only 4,568 votes. However, despite his inability to attract significant voter support, Dikshit’s presence in the contest played a crucial role in splitting the opposition vote, thereby tilting the scales in BJP’s favour in the New Delhi seat.
The polling for Delhi’s 70-member Assembly took place on February 5, witnessing a voter turnout of 60.54%. The BJP saw a significant rise in its vote share, climbing from 38% to 45.88%. In contrast, AAP experienced a decline in voter support, with its share dropping to 43.62%, which ultimately cost them the election. Meanwhile, the Congress, though unable to secure a single seat, registered a marginal improvement in its vote share, which stood at 6.37%.
After his defeat, former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal gracefully accepted the election results and congratulated the BJP on their victory. He also urged them to deliver on the promises made during their campaign.
In a video message, Kejriwal stated, “We accept the mandate of the people with great humility. I congratulate the BJP for this victory, and I hope they will fulfill all the promises for which people have voted for them.”
On the other hand, an elated Parvesh Verma took to his social media handle, X (formerly Twitter), to express his gratitude and celebrate the victory.
He posted, “Congratulations to all the people of Delhi for this new dawn! The darkness is gone, the sun has risen, and the lotus has bloomed. Delhi has chosen development. This victory is the victory of Delhi’s faith and its future.”
Speaking to the media, Verma announced that the first cabinet meeting of the new government would establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe corruption cases from Kejriwal’s tenure.
He also laid out his government’s key priorities, stating, “Our focus will be on providing Rs 2,500 to women, forming an SIT for corruption investigations, developing the Yamuna riverfront, reducing pollution, and easing traffic congestion. We will transform Delhi into a capital that makes everyone proud.”
When questioned about his chief ministerial prospects, Verma diplomatically responded, “In our party, the legislative members decide the CM candidate, and the party leadership gives its approval. We all stand by the party’s decision.”
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, lost his bid for the New Delhi seat. However, his presence in the race proved instrumental in eating into Kejriwal’s vote share, indirectly aiding the BJP’s victory.
Reflecting on the election outcome, Dikshit remarked, “Although we raised significant issues during the campaign, it seems voters were not convinced that Congress could form the government. As of now, it looks like the BJP will form the government. We respect the people’s decision.”