As multiple names including that of a woman face are doing the rounds for Chief Ministerial pick and given the “surprise’ sprung by the top leadership, speculations are rife that in order to ‘accommodate’ the sentiments of all, BJP may appoint two Deputy Chief Ministers. The government formation will take place after the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from abroad.
Multiple names are doing the rounds and amongst them some are not even MLAs and could be imposed. Amid a buzz over the contenders' names for the top post, sources in the party have said the next Delhi Chief Minister will be from among the MLAs.
He asserted that among the newly-elected MLAs, there are several competent leaders, including two former Delhi BJP presidents, one national secretary of the party and several former state functionaries who have long political experience.
Another senior Delhi BJP leader also pitched for the elevation of an MLA to the chief minister's post, saying it would honour the people's mandate the party has got. There are also precedents set by senior party leaders in the past, he said, citing the example of BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra.
Insiders indicated that the BJP leadership is assessing its options based on multiple factors to ensure a balanced representation. “Caste is expected to be a significant criterion in selecting Delhi’s first BJP Chief Minister in nearly 30 years.
The party aims to accommodate influential communities such as Brahmins, Jats, and Punjabis to secure broader voter support.
The RSS will play an advisory role in the CM selection, suggesting candidates based on community support for the BJP. Their recommendations will consider various factors, including caste dynamics and electoral performance,’” confided a party leader.
Sources have said that a woman MLA could also be considered for the top post. Among the BJP's 48 newly elected legislators are four women - Neelam Pahalwan, Rekha Gupta, Poonam Sharma and Shikha Roy. Neelam Pahalwan has been elected the first woman MLA from Najafgarh seat, Rekha Gupta is a former Delhi University Students' Union president, Poonam Sharma has won in Wazirpur and Shikha Roy defeated senior AAP leader and former minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.
Another sources said the top contenders include Parvesh Sahib Singh (a Jat leader), who won from New Delhi, defeating Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal; Vijender Gupta (belonging to the Baniya community), Rohini; Pawan Sharma (a Brahmin), Uttam Nagar; Sikh face and former Congress minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, Gandhi Nagar; Raj Kumar Chauhan (a Dalit), also a former Congress minister, Mangol Puri; Rekha Gupta (a Baniya), Shalimar Bagh; Shikha Roy (a Thakur), who pulled off an upset win in Greater Kailash against Saurabh Bharadawaj; Harish Khurana (a Punjabi Khatri), Moti Nagar; Ajay Mahawar (a Baniya), Ghonda; Jitender Mahajan (a Baniya), Rohtas Nagar; and Satish Upadhyay (a Brahmin), another giant killer who defeated Somnath Bharti, Malviya Nagar.
