NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its fourth list of 38 candidates for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, completing its lineup for all 70 constituencies. Released on Sunday, December 15, the list features several prominent names, underscoring AAP’s strategy to retain its stronghold in the national capital.
Arvind Kejriwal, AAP’s national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister, will contest from the Delhi constituency, facing Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, son of the late Sheila Dikshit, a former Delhi Mayor and CM. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Atishi is set to represent Kalkaji.
Notable names include Gopal Rai from Babarpur, Satyendra Kumar Jain from Shakur Basti, Saurabh Bhardwaj from Greater Kailash, Durgesh Pathak from Rajinder Nagar, Somnath Bharti from Malviya Nagar, and Amanatullah Khan from Okhla. The list predominantly comprises sitting MLAs, with 36 out of 38 candidates seeking re-election.
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The new faces are Ramesh Pehalwan from Kasturba Nagar and Pooja Balyan, wife of Naresh Balyan. Pehalwan, a former BJP member, joined AAP on Sunday with his wife Kusumlaya Ramesh in Kejriwal’s presence.
Arvind Kejriwal expressed confidence in the lineup, emphasizing AAP’s developmental achievements over the past decade. He stated on X (formerly Twitter): “AAP has a clear vision and a strong team to work for the betterment of Delhiites. Our track record speaks for itself.”
Taking a jab at the BJP, Kejriwal remarked, “The BJP has no CM face, no vision, and no plan for Delhi. Their only agenda is ‘Remove Kejriwal.’ But the people of Delhi vote for work, not baseless criticism.”
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The party will contest independently, ruling out an alliance with Congress. Its slogan for the election, Fir Layenge Kejriwal (Bring Kejriwal Back), underscores its determination to retain power.
In the 2020 Assembly elections, AAP achieved a landslide victory, winning 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP secured eight. Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years, failed to win a seat in the last two elections.
Despite its dominance, AAP has faced challenges with Delhi’s lieutenant governors, with Kejriwal accusing the BJP of interference claims the BJP has denied.