Fri Jan 03 10:04:02 UTC 2025: ## Delhi BJP Chief to Sit Out Upcoming Assembly Elections
**New Delhi, [Date]** – Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva will not be contesting in the upcoming February Assembly elections, sources have confirmed to NDTV. This decision comes after speculation that he would be a candidate. The BJP’s first candidate list is yet to be released, unlike the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has already announced its full slate.
The election is shaping up to be a fierce contest between the BJP and the incumbent AAP. The AAP, in power since 2015, holds a significant majority, but the BJP swept all seven Lok Sabha seats in the last election. The rivalry is currently playing out in an aggressive poster war, with the BJP accusing the AAP of voter fraud and the AAP countering with strong support for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Recently, Sachdeva wrote a New Year’s letter to Kejriwal, urging him to abandon “bad habits” of lying and cheating and to apologize for promoting liquor. This followed a letter from Kejriwal to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat questioning the BJP’s actions and their impact on democracy.
The acrimonious campaign has also seen accusations of voter manipulation from both sides. The AAP alleges the BJP is attempting to remove legitimate voters from the rolls, citing an instance where over 11,000 names were flagged for removal in the Shahdara Assembly segment. The BJP counters that the substantial increase in voter numbers between Lok Sabha and Assembly elections raises concerns about the inclusion of ineligible voters. Sachdeva points to a significant jump in voter numbers after both the 2014 and 2019 general elections, questioning the source of these new registrations.
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