In the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, BJP’s Parvesh Verma managed to secure a surprising victory over former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, marking a significant moment in the city’s political landscape. However, despite this high-profile win, Verma found himself grappling with several political hurdles that eventually prevented him from capitalizing on the momentum of his victory.
One of the major factor why he could not win the CM post can be the ideology of the party that does not support the dynasty culture within the party and often seen criticizing Opposition parties including Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for promoting dynastic politics in the party.
Verma is the son of former chief minister and BJP leader Sahib Singh Verma, who has cut short his journey to the CM’s chair. Had the party selected Verma for Delhi CM, the BJP would likely have conceded an opening for attacks to the Opposition.
Where Rekha Gupta who has been appointed as new chief minister of Delhi has maintained a low-key profile, away from media despite her long political career and not muddling in any controversies, Verma’s controversial remarks and aggressive campaigning have at times worked against him. He has drawn flak for public comment.
Meanwhile, Gupta’s closeness with RSS has played a vital role in her victory and journey to the CMs’ position. RSS has backed the party in recently held assembly polls that compelled the party to choose RSS’s candidate for the Chief Minister’s post.
According to the sources, Gupta had a strong backing of the RSS ever since the results of the polls were announced. The Sangh had expressed complete confidence in her and had also conveyed the same to the BJP leadership.
Verma closely contested the race against Kejriwal, a victory that many expected to propel him to greater political heights. Yet, despite his win, Verma’s rise in Delhi politics has not been as smooth as many had anticipated.
Where he was expected to be the first choice for the post of chief minister ever since he had defeated Kejriwal from New Delhi constituency, the appointment of Rekha Gupta, a first time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has come as a surprise for the party workers and supporters of Verma.
Verma was backed by the fact that the winning candidate from New Delhi constituency has often ascended to the CM’s chair. However, his political lineage might have become a hurdle for him and he was appointed as Deputy to Rekha Gupta.
While Parvesh Verma’s victory over Arvind Kejriwal was a momentous occasion, his failure to gain further political traction in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections reflects the complexities of Delhi’s political ecosystem. Internal party challenges and his controversial public image have all played a role in limiting his potential to ascend further in the political arena. Despite his win, Verma’s broader ambitions continue to face significant obstacles.
