AAP releases first list of candidates for Delhi assembly elections 2025, includes turncoats from BJP and Congress

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its first list of 11 candidates on November 21 for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for February 2025.

This initial list includes six leaders who recently joined AAP after leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, alongside a reshuffling that saw three sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) denied re-nomination.

At a press conference in Delhi, AAP's city convener, Gopal Rai, explained the rationale behind the early announcement.

He stated that eight of the 11 constituencies listed are currently not held by AAP, with six of them under BJP control.

Rai emphasized that the selection process was driven by performance metrics, internal surveys, and public feedback, aligning with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's commitment to merit-based ticket distribution.

Key Candidates Announced

• Brahm Singh Tanwar (Chhatarpur), Anil Jha (Kirari), and BB Tyagi (Laxmi Nagar): Former BJP leaders who recently joined AAP.
• Choudhary Zubair Ahmed (Seelampur): A former Congress leader.
• Veer Singh Dhingan (Seemapuri) and Somesh Shokeen (Matiala): Ex-Congress MLAs now contesting under the AAP banner.

The announcement also revealed the replacement of three sitting MLAs: Rituraj Jha (Kirari), Gulab Singh Yadav (Matiala), and Abdul Rahman (Seelampur). Notably, Jha and Yadav were two-term legislators.

The AAP, which secured a sweeping victory with 62 out of 70 seats in the 2020 elections, is now focused on regaining constituencies it lost.

Among these are Rohtas Nagar and Badarpur, where Sarita Singh and Ram Singh Netaji have been re-nominated after narrow defeats to BJP candidates in the previous election.

The first list also signals the party’s readiness to counter defections, as AAP MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar from Chhatarpur recently joined the BJP, resulting in his disqualification.

Similarly, former AAP MLA Rajender Pal Gautam from Seemapuri resigned and joined the Congress.

Rai highlighted that this announcement marks the beginning of a focused election campaign. In the coming days, AAP plans to intensify its outreach efforts, introducing new campaign strategies to connect with voters across Delhi.

Delhi’s Legislative Assembly comprises 70 seats, and the elections have historically been a battleground between AAP, BJP, and Congress.

With the BJP currently holding several constituencies listed in AAP's first round of candidates, this move reflects a strategic attempt to consolidate its position in the capital.

In the 2020 Assembly elections, AAP achieved a landslide victory, propelled by its focus on education, healthcare, and public welfare schemes.

With the release of its initial candidate list, AAP appears to be positioning itself for another strong showing, emphasizing accountability and adaptability in its ticket allocation process.