Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: Who is Parvesh Singh Verma, the man who defeated AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal?

Delhi: AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been defeated by BJP’s Parvesh Singh Sahib Verma in his stronghold, the New Delhi constituency, by 4,089 votes. Verma, a prominent BJP leader in Delhi, is known for his assertive political style and strong party connections. As the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, his political journey has been shaped by his family legacy, propelling him from grassroots activism to national prominence.

Early life and education

Born in 1977, Verma grew up in a politically influential family. He attended Delhi Public School, RK Puram, before pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kirori Mal College at the University of Delhi. To enhance his leadership and administrative skills, he later earned an MBA from the Fore School of Management. His upbringing and education provided him with a strong foundation in governance and public affairs.

Political rise and electoral success

Verma formally entered electoral politics in 2013 when he won a seat in the Delhi Legislative Assembly from the Mehrauli constituency. This victory marked his transition from being the son of a political stalwart to an independent leader with a growing support base.

In 2014, Verma moved to national politics, contesting and winning the West Delhi parliamentary seat. His victory was seen as a significant endorsement of his leadership, and his popularity soared. Five years later, in 2019, he won re-election by a massive margin of 5.78 lakh votes, further cementing his position as a key player in Delhi’s political landscape.

As an MP, he actively participated in policy-making and governance, serving on several parliamentary committees, including the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament and the Standing Committee on Urban Development. He was also a member of the governing body of AIIMS, New Delhi, where he contributed to discussions on healthcare and urban planning.

Political strategy for the 2025 Assembly polls

Despite his back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2019, Verma was a surprise omission from the BJP’s candidate list for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, he quickly refocused his political ambitions on state politics, launching a high-decibel campaign against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leader, Kejriwal, in the run-up to the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.

Under the slogan “Remove Kejriwal, Save the Nation”, Verma aggressively targeted the AAP government over issues like pollution control, women’s safety, and infrastructure development. He particularly highlighted the government’s failure to clean the Yamuna River, a persistent environmental concern for the city.

His campaign strategy revolved around positioning the BJP as a more effective alternative to AAP, promising better governance, improved public services, and stricter measures to curb pollution. His ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP, also played a significant role in shaping his political outlook and approach.

In a fiercely contested election for the New Delhi seat, Verma emerged victorious with 30,088 votes, defeating Kejriwal, who secured 25,999 votes. Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit finished a distant third with 4,568 votes.

Controversies
Throughout his political career, Verma has been a polarising figure, often making headlines for his controversial statements and actions. During the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests in Delhi, he was a vocal critic of the movement, aligning with the BJP’s position and making inflammatory remarks against minorities. His most infamous statement came during the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections when he claimed that if the BJP came to power, he would clear the Shaheen Bagh protest site within an hour, further alleging that Muslim protesters posed a threat to Hindu families. His remarks sparked outrage but solidified his standing among hard-line BJP supporters.

In 2022, he again courted controversy when he called for a “total boycott” of the Muslim community while addressing a gathering in North-East Delhi. His speech, in which he urged his supporters to take a pledge against Muslims, led to widespread criticism and legal scrutiny.

Also Read: Delhi Election Results: Arvind Kejriwal loses to BJP’s  Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma

More recently, in the run-up to the 2025 Delhi elections, the AAP accused Verma of orchestrating an attack on Kejriwal and distributing money to voters. He was also charged with violating election rules after allegedly distributing shoes outside a temple.

The road ahead
Despite being sidelined from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Verma’s return to state politics has reinforced his position within the BJP. His ability to galvanise support and his aggressive campaign tactics have made him one of the most influential leaders in Delhi’s political landscape.

As he continues his political journey, Verma’s confrontational approach and divisive rhetoric will remain a point of debate. While his supporters view him as a strong leader fighting for Delhi’s betterment, his critics accuse him of fostering communal divisions and using inflammatory language for political gains.

With the evolving political scenario in Delhi, Verma remains a figure to watch, whether as a potential Chief Ministerial candidate or a key strategist in the BJP’s efforts to challenge AAP’s dominance in the national capital