In the Delhi Assembly elections, Pravesh Verma stunned everyone by being named 'Man of the Match'. He triumphed over Arvind Kejriwal by over 4,000 votes, garnering a reputation as both the largest victor and a formidable disruptor. How did the BJP candidate, who was once seated on the sidelines, rise to become the player of the match in such a crucial election? Astonishingly, he only had two months to prepare against the seasoned AAP stalwart, Kejriwal.
Even without an election ticket for the recent Lok Sabha polls, despite his tenure as MP from 2014 to 2024, Pravesh Verma remained undeterred. Accepting the decision from the party's leadership gracefully, he focused all efforts on the Delhi Assembly race, where he was subsequently crowned player of the match after stunning results.
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An experienced leader, Verma attributed his victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of Delhi. In conversation with India Today after the win over Kejriwal, Verma stated, 'I was informed just two months back to contest from New Delhi [Kejriwal's seat].' He also announced the formation of a special investigative team in the first cabinet to probe all corruptions during Kejriwal's tenure.
Pravesh Verma defeated AAP's Convenor Kejriwal in New Delhi by a margin of 4,099 votes in what became a direct battle. The third spot was secured by former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit's son, Sandeep Dikshit, with 4,541 votes, a seat Kejriwal had controversially claimed in 2013.
Pravesh Verma: A Parliamentarian and Son of a Former CM
Before reaching parliament, Pravesh Verma, son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, won as MLA from Mehrauli. Post the dissolution of Delhi Assembly in 2013, he was propelled into the 2014 Lok Sabha fray, securing a win from West Delhi and retaining the seat in 2019's elections, where he gained recognition by clinching victory with a substantial margin of 570,000 votes.
Despite being replaced in 2024 Lok Sabha polls by Jat leader Kamaljeet Sehrawat for West Delhi, Verma voiced that there was no particular reason for it. Emphasizing the BJP's emphasis on opportunity, he noted, 'In our party, a worker can become a CM, a tea seller can become the PM. BJP allows each worker a chance,' further stating their aim of winning 400 seats and securing the Delhi Assembly.
How Pravesh Verma Positioned Himself as a CM Contender
Through an aggressive campaign, Verma reached out to Delhi's public with BJP's messages, scrutinizing Kejriwal's tenure and AAP's policies. Highlighting issues like pollution management and infrastructure, Verma engaged in fierce exchanges with Kejriwal, raising concerns about the misuse of resources and security issues.
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Verma also exploited BJP's 'Sheesh Mahal' allegations against the official CM residence and attacked Kejriwal on the Yamuna pollution issue, thereby enhancing his potential candidacy for CM with scathing attacks on AAP.
When inquired about being a face for the CM role, Verma stated, 'I will talk about it later.' Now, having emerged victorious from New Delhi against Kejriwal, when prompted on his electrifying campaign, he used an iconic song’s line to reply, 'Forget yesterday's matters, they are ancient, in a new era we shall write a new story together.'
Today, all eyes are on Pravesh Verma. Even though excluded from BJP's 2024 Lok Sabha lineup, he secured the highest prize in Delhi's political landscape. The looming question now is, will he receive leadership? Only time and BJP's hierarchy can answer.
