Who Will BJP Pick as Delhi’s Next Chief Minister? List of Probable CM Faces

Delhi Election Result 2025: The Bharatiya Janata Party secured a historic mandate in the Delhi polls on Saturday, reclaiming power in the national capital after 27 years by ousting the Aam Aadmi Party. Several AAP leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, suffered defeats in their strongholds. The BJP has won 48 of Delhi’s 70 seats, while AAP has secured a mere 22 seats. With this massive victory, a crucial question arises—who will be the BJP’s Chief Minister in Delhi after nearly three decades?  

While speculation is rife, the BJP has remained tight-lipped about its chief ministerial candidate. Addressing the matter, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva asserted that the party's central leadership would make the final decision. Dismissing concerns over the CM face, Sachdeva stated, "This issue is not a major concern for us. Those (AAP) who betray the people will be treated accordingly—through defeat."

BJP’s Possible CM Contenders in Delhi

As the BJP set to form government in Delhi, speculation grows over who could be the party’s chief ministerial pick.  Here’s a look at some key names in the running

• Parvesh Verma – Contesting from the high-profile New Delhi seat against AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal , Verma is leading in early trends. The son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, his Jat background makes him a crucial player in BJP’s strategy. Verma is professionally involved in business and social work.
• Vijender Gupta – A senior BJP leader and former Delhi BJP chief, Gupta has won the Rohini seat in both 2015 and 2020 despite AAP’s stronghold in the capital. He also served as Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, and his experience makes him a strong contender for the top post.
• Ramesh Bidhuri – During the election campaign, AAP declared Bidhuri as BJP’s likely CM face and even invited him for a debate. However, BJP dismissed the claim, stating that the CM choice was yet to be finalized. Bidhuri is contesting from Kalkaji against Delhi CM Atishi.
• Kailash Gahlot – Currently leading from Bijwasan, Gahlot is another potential contender for the CM position.
• Kapil Mishra – Contesting from Karawal Nagar, Mishra is ahead in early trends, making him a notable name in the race.
• Arvinder Singh Lovely – Former Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely joined BJP ahead of the elections and is contesting from Gandhi Nagar.
• Harish Khurana – Son of former Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana, Harish Khurana is contesting from Moti Nagar. His political lineage and experience could make him a viable CM candidate if BJP opts for a leader with legacy appeal.
• Dushyant Kumar Gautam – A key figure in the BJP, Gautam is contesting from the Karol Bagh Assembly constituency. As BJP’s national general secretary and a Dalit leader, he brings both political experience and social outreach. He has also served as a Rajya Sabha MP and has been active in student politics.   

For the unversed, the BJP has been out of office in Delhi since 1998. On the other hand, AAP has dominated Delhi's political landscape for the past 10 years, winning the 2015 and the 2020 polls by whopping majorities.