Sun Jan 05 03:18:15 UTC 2025: ## BJP Unveils First List of Delhi Assembly Candidates, Setting Stage for Fierce Contest

**New Delhi, January 4, 2025** – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of 29 candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a strong attack against the AAP.

Notable 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. This contest is framed as a clash between “sons of Chief Ministers” and the “common man,” as Kejriwal previously characterized it. Another key battle will be in Kalkaji, where former MP Ramesh Bidhuri will face off against AAP Chief Minister Atishi and Congress leader Alka Lamba. This matchup has already sparked controversy, with Congress condemning Bidhuri’s nomination.

The BJP’s list features eight defectors from AAP and Congress, including former Delhi ministers Kailash Gahlot and Raaj Kumar Anand, and former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely. Three national-level BJP office bearers are also among the candidates. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva described the list as a blend of youth and experience, expressing confidence in their ability to secure a majority in the 70-member Assembly.

The AAP has already declared candidates for all seats, while the Congress has announced 48. Both AAP and Congress have reiterated their intention to contest the election independently. The BJP, aiming for its first Delhi majority since 1998, faces an uphill battle after winning only three and eight seats in the 2015 and 2020 elections, respectively. The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February.

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