Arvind Kejriwal to contest from New Delhi seat; CM Atishi fielded from Kalkaji

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has finalized its lineup for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections by releasing the fourth and final list of 38 candidates on Sunday. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal will contest from the New Delhi constituency, a seat he has successfully defended in previous elections. Chief Minister Atishi will once again contest from Kalkaji, and Saurabh Bharadwaj has been fielded from Greater Kailash.

In a significant reshuffle, AAP denied tickets to 20 sitting MLAs, opting instead to field their family members or new entrants to the party. Notable replacements include Ramesh Pehlwan, who joined AAP earlier in the day after leaving the BJP, and has been fielded from Kasturba Nagar.

The announcement sets the stage for a fierce battle in the New Delhi constituency, where Arvind Kejriwal will face Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, son of the late Sheila Dikshit. The rivalry is expected to revive memories of past electoral clashes between Kejriwal and the Dikshit family.

Arvind Kejriwal criticized the BJP, alleging a lack of vision and leadership for Delhi. In a post on X, he said, “The BJP has no CM face, no team, and no plan for Delhi. They only focus on removing Kejriwal, while AAP has a clear vision, strong team, and proven governance track record.”

AAP leader Manish Sisodia echoed similar sentiments, describing Kejriwal as the "hope and trust" for Delhi's future. “Under his leadership, we’ve made remarkable progress in education, healthcare, electricity, and water. We are ready to continue this journey for another five years,” Sisodia wrote on X.

The 70-member Delhi Assembly elections are expected to take place in January 2025. AAP will contest all seats independently, banking on its grassroots support and governance achievements to secure a third consecutive term in the national capital.