BJP announces 9 more candidates for Delhi Elections, allocates two seats to allies JD(U), LJP(RV)

The BJP revealed its fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, adding nine names to its slate. Among the notable candidates, Shikha Rai will contest from Greater Kailash, challenging AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, while Anil Vashishth is fielded from Babarpur against AAP minister Gopal Rai.

This latest announcement brings the BJP's total to 68 candidates for the 70-member assembly elections. The remaining two seats are allocated to its NDA allies. The JD(U) has confirmed Shailendra Kumar as its candidate for the Burari constituency. Meanwhile, the Deoli (reserved) seat will likely be given to the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

The Burari seat, contested by the JD(U) in 2020, saw a significant defeat when AAP’s Sanjeev Jha won by a margin of 88,000 votes. BJP sources indicate that the decision to allocate Burari to JD(U) has not been well-received by party workers in the constituency, with reports of possible rebel candidates emerging.


In the Greater Kailash constituency, Shikha Rai, who lost to Bharadwaj by over 16,000 votes in 2020, has been given another opportunity to challenge the sitting minister. The BJP leadership reportedly spent considerable time finalizing a candidate for the seat, with names like former Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi under consideration. However, Lekhi was not included in the final list and had reportedly expressed interest in contesting from Delhi Cantonment.

From Sangam Vihar, BJP has fielded Chandan Kumar Chaudhary, a Purvanchali leader, aiming to overturn the AAP's stronghold in the constituency. In 2020, JD(U) lost this seat by over 42,000 votes.

Other key candidates announced include Sanjay Goyal for Shahdara, who will face former BJP member Jitender Singh Shunty, now with the AAP. Additional names include Poonam Sharma (Wazirpur), Ravinder Kumar Indraj (Bawana), Ravikant Ujjain (Trilokpuri-SC), and Praveen Nimesh (Gokalpur-SC).

The BJP is intensifying its efforts to end the AAP's decade-long rule in Delhi. Elections are set for February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8. The nine constituencies announced on Thursday are currently held by the AAP in the outgoing assembly, posing a significant challenge for the BJP as it seeks to reclaim ground.

(With inputs from PTI)