New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lost to his rival from the saffron party, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma by a margin of over 3,000 votes.
Though he managed to take the lead a few times during the counting, Parvesh emerged victorious at the end.
This race was called by ETV Bharat's team of journalists who are in the field using a logical formula.
Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who was considered as a contender in a three-way contest was relegated to a distant third with a mere 4,217 votes in the penultimate round of the 13 round counting process.
Kejriwal loss means the former Delhi CM will not be entering the Assembly anytime sooner. His membership will come to an end in line with the current Assembly's tenure which will expire in a week's time on February 15, 2025. He would have to either win a future bye-election before 2030 or win the next elections to the Assembly to enter the House.
Kejriwal was trailing since the start of the counting in his re-election bid. Parvesh surged ahead of Kejriwal in the first round with a meagre 71 vote lead. Verma was leading in the postal votes which were taken up for counting at 8 am.
The BJP nominee is a former Parliamentarian who has been the member of Lok Sabha representing West Delhi, twice.
In the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, the New Delhi seat had a total of 146122 electors. The total number of valid votes was 76135. Arvind Kejriwal who won the seat secured a total of 46758 votes. BJP candidate Sunil Kumar Yadav stood second with a total of 25061 votes.
In the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls, the constituency had a total of 137924 electors. The total number of valid votes was 88742. Arvind Kejriwal returned to the Assembly by securing 57213 votes. BJP nominee Nupur Sharma stood second with a total of 25630 votes.
In the 2013 Delhi Assembly polls, the New Delhi seat had a total of 124107 electors. The total number of valid votes was 82342. Arvind Kejriwal won his maiden election to become an MLA. He secured a total of 44269 votes. He defeated Congress candidate and former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. She came second with a total of 18405 votes.
According to a report from Madhya Pradesh, Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, is the eldest son-in-law of senior BJP leader Vikram Verma of Madhya Pradesh. Parvesh Verma is married to Swati Verma, the elder daughter of Vikram Verma and BJP MLA from Dhar, Neena Verma.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Neena Verma said, "Parvesh's victory has doubled the joy of BJP. She said that after 27 years, BJP's lotus is going to bloom in Delhi. The victory of son-in-law Pravesh is big because he defeated former CM Arvind Kejriwal in the election."
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