Denied CM post, 'giant-killer' Parvesh Verma can't afford to do an Eknath Shinde

Parvesh Verma, New Delhi MLA and Cabinet Minister, Government of Delhi. (PTI)

He may have been denied the post of Chief Minister, but Parvesh Verma, the proverbial 'giant-killer' who defeated AAP's top boss and three-time sitting MLA Arvind Kejriwal from New Delhi, has no room for despondency.

Maharashtra Deputy CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde found himself in a similar situation in the NDA when he was denied the CM post after the Mahayuti's landmark victory in the state last year. A sulking Shinde has since made his displeasure known on multiple occasions -- from delaying government formation talks to skipping key meetings chaired by the Chief Minister to review key projects.

In contrast, Parvesh Verma has neither the political experience nor the time to sit and sulk. The BJP, which returns to power in the capital after a 27-year hiatus, views Delhi as a reward like none other. The capital remained elusive to the mighty BJP in 2015 as well as 2020 despite its meteoric rise nationally since 2014 and the emergence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as among the most powerful political figures in the country.

Victory in Delhi for the BJP, though decisive, has not come easy. It has taken a sustained effort from the party -- both at the central and local levels -- to counter the AAP's "revdi culture" with its own version of "welfare schemes" while positioning itself as the only answer to Delhi's civic and infrastructural woes and delivering on these promises will be crucial to its image both in the capital and nationally.

Verma, a prominent Jat leader who brought down the mighty Kejriwal, reminiscent of the AAP supremo's own victory over then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, was believed to be among the front-runners for the post of Delhi CM. However, the party chose to go with a woman face in the form of Rekha Gupta while Verma was handed the departments of public works, water, legislative affairs, irrigation, flood control and Gurdwara elections.

Of the key ministries that Verma has been handed, Water and Public Works are crucial to deliver on the BJP's pre-poll promises of improved roads, clean water supply and cleaning the Yamuna river.

Cleaning the Yamuna was a major pledge in the BJP’s poll manifesto for Delhi. The party assured voters that its government in Delhi would collaborate with the central government to develop a modern riverfront and establish a Yamuna Kosh, a dedicated fund for the river’s restoration.

As Water minister, he will also have a role in keeping the Yamuna clean, a goal that successive governments have failed to accomplish over the years. A Moneycontrol analysis in November last year showed that Delhi had spent over Rs 7,000 crore on Yamuna river's cleaning since 2017 but has very little to show in terms of progress.

Besides his performance as a minister, Verma (47), who is three years younger to the Chief Minister, also needs to prove his merit as a disciplined party foot soldier. Reports oh Verma being sidelined for his political lineage (he is the son of former CM Sahib Singh Verma) make it equally crucial for him to prove his critics wrong -- both through his work as well as his ability to be a team player.

Verma has previously served as an MLA in 2013 before being elected an MP in 2014 and 2019 from West Delhi. A Jat leader with considerable influence, Verma, however, lacks experience in municipal politics or the BJP’s state unit. Much contrary to his profile, Rekha Gupta had risen through the ranks from student politics, the state organisation and then as a councillor in municipal administration before she became an MLA for the first time this year.

This was another factor behind the BJP leadership and the RSS siding with Gupta over Verma as the Chief Minister. The opportunity to improve Delhi roads and the quality of drinking water supply is an opportunity for Verma to let his work be seen and also help him gain the experience he needs at the state unit level as well as municipal issues.

Delhi, though small in size, delivers big when it comes to political capital. Verma has an opportunity to perform and he better make good use of it.