New Delhi [India], January 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Central Election Committee (CEC) is expected to hold a crucial meeting on January 10 to finalize the remaining candidates for the Delhi assembly elections, according to sources.
Sources indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda (BJP National President), Rajnath Singh, and other key members of the CEC will be present at the meeting.
Earlier, the BJP released its first list of 29 candidates for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls. This has set the stage for intense multi-cornered contests, particularly in constituencies like those of AAP leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and current Chief Minister Atishi, who will face triangular contests in their respective seats.
The BJP has fielded prominent leaders in key constituencies, including Dushyant Gautam in Karol Bagh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa in Rajouri Garden, and former Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely in Gandhi Nagar. Additionally, Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, will contest against Kejriwal in New Delhi, while Congress has fielded Sandeep Dikshit, the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, for the same seat.
Former MP Ramesh Bidhuri will challenge Atishi in Kalkaji, where Congress has nominated former MLA Alka Lamba.
The Delhi assembly elections are scheduled for February 5, with vote counting taking place on February 8.
As the election draws closer, BJP has ramped up its campaigning, targeting Kejriwal over his alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy case. The BJP has expressed confidence in forming the next government in Delhi, touting its “double-engine” governance model and accusing AAP leaders of corruption and misgovernance.
Meanwhile, AAP, which secured 62 out of 70 seats in the 2020 elections, is seeking a third consecutive term by highlighting its achievements in the education and healthcare sectors. The BJP secured just eight seats in the 2020 assembly polls.