AAP Announces Final List of 38 Candidates for Delhi Assembly Elections 2024
NEW DELHI : As the Delhi Assembly elections approach, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its fourth and final list of candidates for the upcoming polls. The announcement, made on December 15, 2024, completes the party’s slate for all 70 seats in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, with key figures like Arvind Kejriwal, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Atishi leading the charge for their respective constituencies.
Arvind Kejriwal to Contest from New Delhi
The biggest highlight in this final list is the confirmation that AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, will contest from the high-profile New Delhi constituency. This marks a pivotal moment in the 2024 Delhi Assembly elections as Kejriwal faces fierce competition from Congress and BJP candidates in a seat that has historically been a stronghold for his party.
Here is our fourth and final list for upcoming Delhi Elections ‼️
Congratulations to all the candidates 🎉
फिर लायेंगे केजरीवाल 🔥💯 pic.twitter.com/YVgypI9mR9
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 15, 2024
In a sign of confidence, Kejriwal took to X (formerly Twitter) following the release of the list, asserting that his party is “prepared” for the election and criticized the opposition, particularly the BJP, for its lack of a vision for the city. Kejriwal said, “The BJP has no CM face, no team, and no planning for Delhi. All they have is one mission: ‘Remove Kejriwal.’”
Key Candidates in AAP’s Final List
Apart from Kejriwal, several senior AAP leaders will be contesting from their respective constituencies.
- Saurabh Bharadwaj will run for re-election from Greater Kailash.
- Gopal Rai has been fielded from Babarpur.
- Imran Hussain will contest from Ballimaran.
- Raghuvinder Shokeen will seek re-election from Nangloi Jat.
- Mukesh Kumar Ahlawat has been chosen to contest from Sultanpur Majra.
These leaders, who have been key players in AAP’s governance in Delhi, are expected to play a significant role in ensuring the party’s stronghold across various constituencies in the capital.
Atishi to Contest from Kalkaji
Chief Minister Atishi, a prominent AAP figure, will contest from Kalkaji, continuing her leadership in the constituency she represented during the previous assembly tenure. Atishi’s candidacy is a key aspect of AAP’s strategy to retain its influence in the southern parts of Delhi.
Other Notable Candidates
Other important figures who have made it to the final list include Amanatullah Khan, who will contest from Okhla, and former Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who will run from Shakur Basti. The AAP also introduced Posh Balyan, wife of MLA Naresh Balyan, who is currently in judicial custody, to contest from Uttam Nagar.
Moreover, Ramesh Pehlwan, a former BJP leader who joined AAP just days before the announcement, will contest from Kasturba Nagar, replacing the sitting MLA Madan Lal. This reflects AAP’s strategy of bringing in fresh faces from different political backgrounds to strengthen its position ahead of the election.
New Delhi: A High-Stakes Contest
The contest for New Delhi, where Arvind Kejriwal will battle it out, is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated of the entire election. The Congress party has fielded Sandeep Dikshit, the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, while the BJP has announced Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, as its candidate. These high-profile figures are expected to make the race for New Delhi intense, with both national and local factors coming into play.
BJP and Congress Prepare for the Battle
While AAP has finalized its list, the opposition parties are still preparing for the elections. The Congress has released a partial list of 21 candidates, and BJP is yet to unveil its full slate. BJP Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva took a swipe at Kejriwal’s claims of development and vision, accusing his government of mismanagement, particularly regarding the city’s pollution levels and the condition of the Yamuna River.
Sachdeva stated, “In the last ten years, Kejriwal’s ‘vision’ has turned Delhi into the most polluted capital in the world, and the Yamuna River resembles a drain.” He went on to criticize Kejriwal’s leadership, questioning the priorities of the Delhi government and accusing it of exploiting the city’s resources.
AAP’s Strategy for Victory
Despite the opposition’s criticisms, AAP remains optimistic about its chances in the Delhi Assembly elections. Kejriwal’s confident rhetoric and strong endorsement of his party’s work in education, healthcare, and electricity policies reflect AAP’s strategy of focusing on tangible development. Kejriwal has emphasized that his party’s “vision and good team of educated leaders” are the key to the party’s success in the upcoming polls.
The AAP, which secured 62 of the 70 seats in the 2020 Delhi elections, is determined to repeat or improve on that success. Its focus on education, healthcare, and public welfare, paired with its strong ground game, makes it a formidable contender in this election.
Conclusion: Delhi Awaits a Fierce Battle
With the final list of candidates now out, all eyes are on the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 2025. The AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, is poised to defend its majority in the Delhi Assembly, while opposition parties like the BJP and Congress are gearing up for a tough fight. As the election season heats up, voters in Delhi will decide whether AAP’s vision for the city will continue to resonate, or if the opposition can successfully challenge its dominance.