As the BJP narrows down its candidates for the Delhi Assembly elections, former Union Minister Smriti Irani’s name has emerged as a potential contender for the high-profile Greater Kailash (GK) constituency.
The party has already announced 59 of its 70 candidates but is reportedly searching for a strong face to challenge AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj, the sitting MLA and a senior minister.
While Bharadwaj is seen as a popular and experienced leader, the BJP has held several discussions regarding the GK seat. Party insiders revealed that Irani is one of four women leaders being considered for the constituency.
However, sources close to Irani, who lost her Lok Sabha seat in 2024, dismissed the speculation, stating she is not in the race. Meanwhile, the other women contenders are reportedly keen on securing the ticket.
Irani, known for her fiery speeches and ability to take on political heavyweights, earned national recognition by defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Some BJP leaders believe she could counter AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s influence in Delhi.
According to sources, the BJP’s Delhi election in-charge, Baijayant Panda, was tasked by the Central Election Committee to gauge the candidates’ willingness, including that of a former Delhi MP.
Other potential candidates include Arti Mehra, a BJP National Executive member and former mayor; Shikha Rai, a current councillor who previously contested from GK in 2020 but lost to Bharadwaj by over 16,000 votes; and former Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi, who is reportedly more inclined to contest from Delhi Cantonment.
Party discussions intensified on Monday during a Delhi Core Committee meeting with senior leadership. While the state unit requested a prominent face like Irani, no decision has been made yet, sources said.
The BJP has already fielded key leaders against senior AAP figures, such as Parvesh Verma against Kejriwal in New Delhi and Ramesh Bidhuri against Atishi in Kalkaji. However, some party leaders have cautioned against parachuting an outsider into the GK seat, recalling the backlash after Kiran Bedi’s late appointment as the BJP’s CM candidate in 2015.
They warned that sidelining local leaders in favor of a high-profile candidate could demoralize the party’s grassroots workers.
The GK seat, held by Bharadwaj for three consecutive terms, remains a critical constituency in the upcoming elections. For now, the BJP continues to deliberate on the best candidate to mount a strong challenge.
If you enjoyed reading this article then please share it and bookmark our website for latest updates.
