Delhi BJP's Comeback Trio: Denied Tickets in 2024, Lekhi, Bidhuri, Verma Asked to Prove Mettle in 2025, Say Sources | EXCLUSIVE

Ramesh Bidhuri, Meenakshi Lekhi, Parvesh Verma could be given BJP tickets in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections 2025. (Image: PTI)

Sources suggested upscale Greater Kailash (GK) is one of the few constituencies shortlisted for former BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi.

Over the last weekend, two meetings between the functionaries of RSS and Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Rajasthan’s Ranthambore over next year’s Delhi assembly election, seem to have regulated hope for many former MPs of the party who were denied tickets this Lok Sabha election.

THE COME BACK TRINITY?

Sources in the BJP say at least three former parliamentarians, who were sulking after losing out in a massive reshuffle in Delhi this time where six out of seven names for Lok Sabha polls were changed, have been asked to prove their mettle. Former Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi is believed to have been asked to hit the ground, said sources, after last weekend’s meeting attended by BJP General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh. Lekhi, who was the Minister Of State for External Affairs in Modi 2.0 represented the New Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency, from where from Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of senior BJP leader late Sushma Swaraj, was fielded and won this Lok Sabha election.

Sources suggested upscale Greater Kailash (GK) is one of the few constituencies shortlisted for Lekhi.

Another former MP who is said to have been given a go ahead to start making efforts to organise his teams on ground is Ramesh Bidhuri, said BJP sources. Bidhuri – the South Delhi MP of Modi 2.0 – had hurled racial slurs at BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali during a discussion in Parliament in September, which, along with anti-incumbency are believed to have cost him the ticket to Lok Sabha. However, if sources are to be believed, Bidhuri is being given a ‘second chance’ by the BJP leadership and the RSS. He was an MLA from Tughlaqabad from 2003 to 2014, which is why he is actively being considered to be fielded from Tughlakabad again, said party sources.

If BJP sources are to be believed, Parvesh Verma – the former MP from West Delhi and the son of former Chief Minister late Sahib Singh Verma – is also believed to have been signalled to make preparations for his electoral comeback. His comments against the protestors at Shaheen Bagh over CAA and later in 2022, to launch a public boycott against Muslims, are believed to have cost him his Lok Sabha ticket. But the BJP is also aware of the fact that in 2019 Lok Sabha election, Verma was among the Delhi MPs who defeated their opponents with the maximum margin. Sources said the BJP is toying with three constituencies for him including Najafgarh that is dominated by Jats, the caste of Parvesh Sahib Singh.

Unlikely Names

Dr Harsh Vardhan, who is 69 years old, is unlikely to be considered in spite of carrying a clean image as the thrust of BJP this time is youth, said sources. The BJP, sources said, is focusing on 50 per cent or more on new faces as it did in Lok Sabha. So going with Harsh Vardhan will be counterproductive.

Meanwhile, Hans Raj Hans, too, is unlikely to be fielded as he is 62 years old and “is not a quintessential politician”, as pointed out by a BJP functionary.

NOT CONSIDERED AT ALL

Meanwhile, another former Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir has now transitioned back to his previous career – cricket. He has ever since taken over the job of Team India’s head coach. Gautam Gambhir is currently in Gwalior for the first T20I between India and Bangladesh scheduled to take place on October 6.

While Gambhir is out of question for consideration, so is Manoj Tiwari as he is the only Delhi MP in Modi 2.0 who was repeated in 2024 Lok Sabha election and won.