Wed Feb 19 08:42:03 UTC 2025: ## Delhi BJP to Announce New Chief Minister Today

**New Delhi:** The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to announce Delhi’s new Chief Minister later today. After a meeting of the BJP’s parliamentary board, observers OP Dhankhar and Ravi Shankar Prasad will convey the party’s decision to the BJP legislature party at a meeting scheduled for 6:30 PM. The selection process, mirroring that of other BJP-ruled states, is rumored to involve a sealed note revealing the chosen candidate.

Several names have been circulating, including Parvesh Verma, Manoj Tiwari, Rekha Gupta, and Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Sources suggest the parliamentary board considered three names, with discussions also touching upon the representation of Punjabi and Vaishya communities within Delhi.

The swearing-in ceremony is planned for tomorrow, February 20th, at Ramlila Maidan. The BJP aims for a large-scale event, inviting over 100,000 attendees, including residents of Delhi’s jhuggis (slums), pandits, and granthis (religious leaders), a move interpreted as an attempt to directly challenge Arvind Kejriwal’s support base.

The AAP has criticized the delay in naming the new CM, with acting CM Atishi questioning the BJP’s ability to choose a suitable candidate from amongst its 48 MLAs.

Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory regarding traffic diversions and restrictions expected around Ramlila Maidan during the swearing-in ceremony. Bollywood celebrities will reportedly not be attending the event, contradicting earlier reports. Goa CM Pramod Sawant is expected to attend. The chosen CM will be sworn in at 12:05 PM on February 20th, a time selected for its auspiciousness. The AAP will hold its own meeting at noon today.

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