Delhi CM likely to be an MLA; Parvesh Verma, Vijender Gupta in race | India News

NEW DELHI: After BJP’s emphatic win, the spotlight has turned to the all-important question of who is going to be the next chief minister.
While many names, including those of party MPs from Delhi, were doing the rounds, there were indications that the party brass may pick someone from among the winning MLAs to avoid two byelections – one caused by the resignation of an Lok Sabha MP and another that would be necessitated if a sitting MLA is persuaded to quit his seat.

Among the crowded field of contenders, Parvesh Verma has pulled ahead after his giant-killing victory over Kejriwal in the latter’s stronghold of New Delhi. Son of former CM Saheb Singh Verma, Parvesh, who twice won the West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, is seen as a good Jat face and can help deepen the connect with the community, which appears to have supported BJP.
Vijender Gupta, leader of BJP in the outgoing assembly, is also seen as a strong contender. He scored his third consecutive victory from Rohini.
“It is too premature,” a party source said. “The leadership is not going to be rushed into a decision and, in all likelihood, it will be taken after PM Modi’s return from the US on Friday.”
BJP is known to spring surprises in state appointments, often opting for low-profile figures to bring an element of control and freshness. This suggests the party could look beyond Verma, Gupta and others to someone who can resonate with a broader demographic, or fulfil specific regional or community expectations.