AAP Supremo, Arvind Kejriwal has lost his election bid from the New Delhi seat to former two-time BJP MP Parvesh Verma, following in the footsteps of his father, Sahib Singh Verma.
Mr Kejriwal finished around 1,200 votes behind his rival, with the Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit third, a set of results that will also reignite talk over the rift between the two parties.
As the counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 unfolded, early trends indicate a significant challenge for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in key constituencies. Among them is the high-profile New Delhi seat, where Delhi’s former Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is trailing behind BJP’s Parvesh Verma—a contest that has turned into a major political showdown.
If these trends hold, it could mark a major setback for Kejriwal, who has been representing the New Delhi constituency since 2013 and was seeking a historic fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister.
The Challenger in the Spotlight
Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the New Delhi constituency, is no stranger to the capital’s political landscape. Born on November 7, 1977, he hails from a family deeply entrenched in Delhi politics. His father, Sahib Singh Verma, served as Delhi’s Chief Minister and was a senior BJP leader. His uncle, Azad Singh, has also held key political positions, including Mayor of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Verma completed his education at Delhi Public School, RK Puram, followed by a Bachelor’s degree from Kirori Mal College (Delhi University). He later pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Fore School of Management.
Political Journey
Parvesh Verma’s political career began in the 2013 Delhi Assembly Elections, where he contested from the Mehrauli constituency and defeated Congress leader Yoganand Shastri, the then-incumbent Delhi Vidhan Sabha speaker.
His influence grew further when he entered national politics. In 2014, he won a Lok Sabha seat from West Delhi and successfully retained it in 2019, setting a record for the highest victory margin in Delhi, defeating Congress’ Mahabal Mishra by 578,486 votes.
However, Verma chose not to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, instead making a return to state politics with a high-stakes battle against Arvind Kejriwal in the 2025 Assembly Elections.
Controversies and Political Persona
Over the years, Verma has developed a reputation for being outspoken and controversial. During the 2020 Delhi Assembly Elections, he was banned for 24 hours by the Election Commission after calling Arvind Kejriwal a “terrorist.”
His statements have often sparked debates, but they have also strengthened his image as a leader who does not shy away from voicing his opinions, a trait that has resonated with BJP’s core voter base.
Personal Life
Beyond politics, Verma grabbed headlines when he shared a unique anecdote about his marriage. In a recent interview, he revealed that he had told his wife, Swati, before marriage that she must be ready to have five children.
However, despite his initial aspirations, circumstances changed when doctors advised against further pregnancies after Swati had three children via cesarean section. Expressing his disappointment, Verma recalled jokingly telling the doctor, “You have caused me a great loss.”
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Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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