Delhi BJP Awaits PM Modi's Meeting To Finalise Assembly Election Candidates, Central Leadership's Nod To Counter Kejriwal's Women Scheme

Party sources told Indian Express on Friday (20 December) that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has narrowed down two to three potential candidates for each of Delhi's 70 assembly constituencies for elections due early next year.

After a raishumaari (consultation) exercise and several ongoing surveys, the BJP leaders, appointed by the party's national leadership, discussed suggestions from the party cadre.

This discussion took place during a meeting of the party's State Election Committee (SEC) on Thursday evening, according to sources. After this, the Core Committee, led by BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda is likely to meet on Friday or Saturday.

"Here, the list of candidates — especially including those leaders who have joined the BJP from other parties in the run-up to the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls — will be narrowed down before finally seeking the nod of the Central Elections Committee which is chaired by the Prime Minister, over the weekend," the source added.

Party insiders have revealed that the initial roster of candidates for the BIP's 2025 Delhi Assembly elections is expected to be declared either this weekend or slightly afterwards.

Insiders revealed that the BJP's state division is awaiting clear guidance from its national leaders regarding its proposal to counter the AAP's Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana in Delhi.

The counterproposal involves implementing a program akin to Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin and Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna scheme. This plan is expected to be part of its manifesto for the Delhi elections, anticipated to be announced concurrently with its first list of candidates.

The BJP, under the leadership of Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, declared a 21-member State Election Committee on Wednesday. This committee is tasked with the responsibility of vetting potential candidates.

The AAP has declared candidates for all 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi, whereas the Congress has only announced their selections for 21 seats, with further announcements anticipated this week.