BJP leader Parvesh Verma is likely to be the next chief minister of Delhi, as the party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh agreed on his name, sources told ABP News. Verma defeated Aam Aadmi Party convener and former CM Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat in the recently concluded assembly polls in the national capital.
The New Delhi constituency saw a three-faced contest between Verma, Kejriwal, and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit. Notably, Kejriwal had unseated his predecessor Sheila Dikshit from the same seat in 2013, ending her 15-year rule.
The 47-year-old BJP leader made several promises including making Yamuan a riverfront, giving houses to slum dwellers and providing them infrastructure, 50,000 government jobs, flyovers, and a pollution-free national capital.
Verma, who has been the top contender for the post, had earlier said the party's leadership will decide the next chief minister of Delhi.
Son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, Parvesh is a former MP of the West Delhi constituency.
Following his victory, Verma thanked the people and called the result "the victory of the people of the national capital".
"This is not just my victory, this is the victory of the people of Delhi who chose truth over lies, governance over gimmicks and development over deception. I humbly thank every voter who trusted me," he said.
He alleged that Kejriwal did not work in the national capital in the last 11 years.
In the run-up to the polls, Verma's campaign would reverberate with the chants of “Delhi ka CM kaisa ho, Parvesh Verma jaisa ho.”
The two-time MLA MP from West Delhi and one-time MLA from Mehrauli, Verma has been with the saffron party for close to three decades.
Last year in December, the Aam Aadmi Party accused Verma of distributing cash to women to "buy their vote." Verma dismissed the charge saying he was only helping them through his father’s NGO.