BJP workers celebrate the party's victory in the Delhi Assembly elections.
Credit: PTI Photo
The BJP triumphantly returned to power in Delhi after nearly three decades on Saturday, ousting the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP from the national capital in an election that saw the saffron party bag 48 of the 70 assembly seats.
While celebrations broke out in saffron camps across the country, the BJP is yet to pick a CM. Sources within the party spoke about several potential candidates, but it is understood that the final decision rests with the saffron party's central leadership.
Here, we take a look at the possible CM candidates from the BJP:
Parvesh Verma
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Parvesh Verma's political currency skyrocketed with his stupendous victory over AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal from New Delhi by 4,089 votes, positioning him as a potential claimant to the top post in the upcoming BJP government.
Verma is also the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma.
Ashish Sood
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Ashish Sood, who won from Janakpuri by 18,766 votes, is a senior leader with some hands-on experience in administrative matters gained during BJP's rule in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
He is also BJP's in-charge for Goa, and co-in-charge for the party's Jammu and Kashmir unit.
Pawan Sharma
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Pawan Sharma, who won from Uttam Nagar by 29,740 votes, is also a frontrunner for the chief minister's post, BJP leaders said.
He is currently the BJP's co-in-charge for Assam.
Vijender Gupta
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Vijender Gupta, the leader of opposition in the previous Delhi Assembly, scored a hat-trick of wins from Rohini, winning by 37,816 votes.
Satish Upadhyay
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Upadhyay, the former vice-chairman of New Delhi Municipal Council, is believed to share close ties with the RSS leadership.
Co-in-charge for BJP's Madhya Pradesh unit, Upadhyay defeated AAP stalwart and former minister Somnath Bharti from Malviya Nagar by a slender margin of 2,131 votes.
Rekha Gupta
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Rekha Gupta won from Shalimar Bagh by more than 29,000 votes.
Gupta is a former general secretary and president of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU), a member of national executive of the BJP, and the general secretary of the Delhi state unit of the party.
Shikha Rai
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Shikha Rai defeated AAP heavyweight Saurabh Bharadwaj from Greater Kailash by 3,188 votes.
Rai could be picked if the BJP decides to go for a woman CM, sources reportedly said.
(With PTI inputs)