BJP's Bansuri Swaraj wins New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency

Bansuri Swaraj vs Somnath Bharati in New Delhi

BJP's Bansuri Swaraj, who made her electoral debut in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, won the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency

She won the seat by a margin of 78,370 vote over her rival and AAP leader Somnath Bharti, the current MLA of Malviya Nagar, which is a part of the New Delhi constituency.

Voting took place on May 25 in the New Delhi constituency during the sixth phase of the seven-phase general election. AAP’s candidate is expected to pose a significant challenge for the BJP here.

About New Delhi constituency:

New Delhi is one of the important constituencies among the seven parliamentary constituencies in India's capital. It comprises 10 legislative assembly constituencies including Greater Kailash, Karol Bagh, New Delhi and Malviya Nagar.

Dropping two-time MP and party veteran Meenakshi Lekhi, the BJP fielded debutant Bansuri Swaraj in her place. Lekhi, won the 2019 and the 2014 elections in the New Delhi constituency by defeating the then Congress chief Ajay Maken by garnering over 55 percent of the votes polled in 2019 and 46.75 percent of the votes polled in 2014.

Bansuri, the daughter of late Union minister Sushma Swaraj is contesting against AAP's Somnath Bharti. Both Bansuri and Somnath are lawyers.

Bansuri, a newcomer in politics, has led a fiery campaign against AAP and is a vocal critic of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. On the other hand, Bharti is a veteran politician who has been a three time MLA from Malviya Nagar - a constituency that falls under the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat.

As Congress and AAP have joined hands to contest the Lok Sabha election in Delhi as a part of the INDIA bloc, the contest in Delhi is expected to be close.

In her campaign, Swaraj has promised to allocate 25 percent of the MP local area development  scheme (MPLADS) funds to residents' welfare associations, and has assured that every central government scheme will reach the residents of her constituency, if she's elected. However, her rival Bharati has a proven track record in the area, and has largely banked on his popularity a three-time MLA. Several prominent leaders have represented this prestigious seat in the past, including late ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and ex-deputy PM Lal Krishna Advani.

A rather posh constituency, New Delhi is beset with problems related to population congestion and parking.