Wed Feb 19 07:52:36 UTC 2025: ## Delhi BJP to Announce New Chief Minister Today; Speculation Mounts

**New Delhi, India** – The suspense surrounding Delhi’s next Chief Minister will end today. After twelve days of speculation following the BJP’s landslide victory in the recent assembly elections, the party is set to announce its choice this evening.

The announcement is expected to follow a meeting of the BJP’s Delhi legislative party at 6:30 PM. Sources suggest that, mirroring recent appointments in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, the central leadership will communicate the chosen candidate’s name via a sealed message or slip during the meeting. Several names have been circulating, including those of Pervesh Verma, Manoj Tiwari, Rekha Gupta, and Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah are reported to have finalized the decision after several rounds of meetings.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow at 12:05 PM in Ramlila Maidan, a significant venue chosen for its symbolic importance. The BJP plans to invite over 100,000 people, including residents of Delhi’s numerous slums, a move seen as a direct challenge to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal’s voter base. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje even drew parallels between Kejriwal and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, accusing both of blaming the central government for their shortcomings.

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 its 48 elected MLAs.

Further fueling the intrigue, reports suggest that the BJP invited various community leaders, including slum heads, women auto-drivers and will not invite Bollywood celebrities to the ceremony as was initially speculated. Goa CM Pramod Sawant is expected to attend the ceremony. Meanwhile, the AAP is holding its own meeting today to discuss the unfolding political situation. The chosen BJP candidate’s selection appears to be shrouded in secrecy, with even many within the Delhi BJP unit remaining unaware of the final decision until the announcement. The chosen auspicious timing of 12:05 PM for the swearing-in ceremony is attributed to astrological calculations.

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