This marks the fourth occasion on which Delhi will have a chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP, which has not yet revealed its chief ministerial candidate for Delhi, secured victory in the Delhi Election 2025 following the conclusion of vote counting on Saturday.
The BJP emerged victorious in 48 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly, a substantial increase from the eight seats it won in the 2020 Delhi Assembly Election. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed 22 seats, a significant decline from the 62 seats it won in 2020. Meanwhile, Congress maintained its seat share at zero.
Delhi CM from BJP for the 4th Time
The BJP has the opportunity to reveal its candidate for chief minister in Delhi at their discretion. The party has returned to power in the capital after an absence of more than 26 years.
The BJP first took control in the national capital in 1993, winning the Delhi elections with 49 seats in the assembly. Since then, the party has had three chief ministers.
In 2025, a BJP member will take on the role of Delhi Chief Minister for the fourth time.
The prior three chief ministers from the BJP in Delhi were Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj. None of them completed a full five-year term in office.
Madan Lal Khurana: From 1993 to 1996
The 1993 elections followed the anti-Sikh violence of 1984, significantly impacting Congress’ performance that year.
Khurana was the first chief minister to lead Delhi after the state Legislative Assembly was reinstated through the 69th Constitution Amendment Act of 1991, as reported by the Indian Express. His term lasted for two years and 86 days, from December 2, 1993, to February 26, 1996.
Popularly known as ‘Delhi ka Sher’ (Lion of Delhi), Khurana’s tenure ended amid the notorious Hawala scandal of 1994. Following this, mounting political pressure led him to resign from the chief ministerial position in 1996.
Sahib Singh Verma: From 1996 to 1998
Khurana’s resignation opened the door for Sahib Singh Verma to take over as the second BJP CM.
Sahib Singh Verma is the father of BJP leader Parvesh Verma, who defeated AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi assembly constituency during the 2025 Delhi Elections. Sahib Singh served for a total of 2 years and 228 days, from February 26, 1996, to October 12, 1998.
He faced criticism over soaring onion prices and his alleged inability to address the water crisis in Delhi, which ultimately forced him to resign.
Sushma Swaraj: From October 1998 to December 1998
Sushma Swaraj, who became Delhi’s first female chief minister, succeeded Sahib Singh. The BJP aimed to introduce a fresh face to combat anti-incumbency in the Union Territory.
During her brief 52-day term, Swaraj established a committee to restore onion supplies in an effort to reduce prices. However, these measures proved insufficient to retain the BJP’s hold on power.
Following her leadership, the BJP lost to Congress in the 1998 Delhi Elections, heralding Sheila Dikshit’s 15-year tenure as chief minister. The Congress ruled for 15 years before the AAP assumed control in 2013.
With the victory in the 2025 Delhi Elections, the BJP is reclaiming power after more than 26 years, concluding the AAP’s decade-long governance. The BJP won 48 seats, while the AAP secured 22, leaving Congress with none.
