The newly elected Chief Minister of Delhi will not reside in the ‘Sheesh Mahal’, the Flagstaff Road bungalow in Civil Lines that served as the official residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal during his tenure, sources have revealed. The term ‘Sheesh Mahal’—a Hindi phrase referring to an extravagant, palace-like home—was popularized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to highlight allegations of a “major scam” in the renovation of Kejriwal’s official residence.
The BJP marked a historic victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, securing 48 out of 70 seats and ending its 26-year wait to regain power in the national capital. This is a significant leap from its 2020 tally of just 8 seats. Meanwhile, the AAP, which had won 62 seats in the previous election, was reduced to 22 seats, and the Congress failed to secure a single seat for the third consecutive time.
Suspense Over Delhi’s Next Chief Minister
While the BJP has yet to announce its pick for the Chief Minister’s post, newly elected MLA Parvesh Verma has emerged as a strong contender. Verma, 47, made headlines by defeating Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, a seat the AAP chief had won three times in a row. Verma, a former two-time MP from West Delhi, was denied a ticket in last year’s parliamentary elections but made a remarkable comeback by defeating Kejriwal in the assembly polls. He is the son of late Sahib Singh Verma, a former Chief Minister of Delhi.
Speaking to the media after the BJP’s victory, Verma stated that the party leadership would decide the next Chief Minister. Other names being speculated include Satish Upadhyay, who defeated AAP’s Somnath Bharti in Malviya Nagar; Ashish Sood, the newly elected MLA from Janakpuri; Jitendra Mahajan, a three-time MLA from Rohtas Nagar; and Vijender Gupta, a three-time MLA from Rohini and former Delhi BJP president.
Oath Ceremony Likely After PM Modi’s US Visit
Sources indicate that the swearing-in ceremony for Delhi’s new Chief Minister is expected to take place after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his official visit to the United States. PM Modi is scheduled to visit the US on February 12 and 13, marking his first trip to Washington since the inauguration of Donald Trump.
The BJP’s landslide victory has reshaped Delhi’s political landscape, with the party now poised to lead the capital after more than two decades. As the suspense over the next Chief Minister continues, all eyes are on the BJP leadership’s decision and the upcoming oath ceremony.
