Sat Jan 04 18:33:02 UTC 2025: ## BJP Unveils Delhi Assembly Election Candidates, Setting Stage for High-Stakes Battle
**New Delhi, January 4, 2025** – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of 29 candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, igniting a fierce electoral contest just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong attack against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The list includes a mix of seasoned politicians and newcomers, with several defectors from AAP and the Congress party.
High-profile matchups include Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, son of former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, contesting against AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency. In Kalkaji, former MP Ramesh Bidhuri will challenge AAP Chief Minister Atishi. This three-way contest also includes Congress’s Alka Lamba, and has already sparked controversy, with Congress leader Danish Ali criticizing the BJP’s decision.
The BJP’s list also features eight former AAP and Congress members, including former Delhi Ministers Kailash Gahlot and Raaj Kumar Anand, and former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely. Three national-level BJP office bearers— Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Dushyant Kumar Gautam, and Ashish Sood— are also in the running.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva described the candidate selection as a balance of youth and experience, encompassing women and former MPs. The party is aiming for a majority in the 70-member Assembly, hoping to win after securing only three and eight seats in 2015 and 2020, respectively. The AAP has already declared its full slate of candidates, while the Congress has announced 48.
The announcement comes amidst accusations of voter list manipulation between the AAP and BJP. Both the AAP and Congress have reiterated their intention to contest the election independently. The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February.
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