Just five women could emerge victorious in the Delhi assembly elections 2025, including outgoing chief minister Atishi. The remaining four are the women MLAs fielded by the BJP. In comparison, eight women were elected to the Delhi assembly in 2020.
The five MLAs bring the women representation in the Union territory to 7.14 per cent, against the 33 per cent as per the Women's Reservation Act. All parties had more female candidates this time. The BJP fielded nine women, so did the AAP while the Congress nominated seven. In total, 96 women contested the Delhi assembly elections 2025.
Will Delhi get another woman as CM?
Parvesh Verma who defeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is the top contender for the Delhi CM's post. However, BJP could also give the role to one of its four women MLAs Rekha Gupta, Poonam Sharma, Shikha Roy or Neelam Pahalwan. Others who could assume the chief ministerial post include former Union minister Smriti Irani and BJP Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj. Picking a woman candidate would also be a strategic move against AAP whose outgoing CM is a woman.
Bansuri Swaraj
Bansuri Swaraj is the daughter of late Sushma Swaraj who was former External Affairs Minister. Currently serving as MP from New Delhi seat, Bansuri Swaraj has significant clout in the Delhi BJP unit. It has to be seen whether BJP will honour the legacy of Sushma Swaraj or choose not to encourage dynasty politics.
Smriti Irani
Smriti Irani who hails from Delhi had taken a back seat following her loss in the Amethi Lok Sabha elections. But the BJP central leadership could give her a chance, given her silent campaigning during the Delhi assembly elections.
Rekha Gupta
Rekha Gupta defeated AAP's Bandana Kumari in Shalimar Bagh by 29,595 votes. She bagged 68,200 votes.
Poonam Sharma
Poonam Sharma defeated AAP's Rajesh Gupta in Wazirpur by 11,425 votes. She polled 54,721 votes against Gupta's 43,296.
Shikha Roy
Shikha Roy won against AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj by 3,188 votes in Greater Kailash. In total she bagged 49,594 votes. She is a two-time BJP councillor.
Neelam Pahalwan
Neelam Pahalwan, who contested against AAP's Tarun Kumar in Najafgarh, defeated him by 29,009 votes. She secured 1,01,708 votes in total. Najafgarh comes under West Delhi Lok Sabha seat.
In past, Delhi had three women chief ministers. Sushma Swaraj was CM in 1998 but her term was short-lived. Soon, Sheila Dikshit became CM the same year to become Delhi's longest-serving chief minister. She held the post till 2013, when the Congress lost to AAP. In 2024, Atishi became the youngest Delhi CM.
