Greater Kailash Elections 2025: A closely-watched three-cornered fight in South Delhi

Greater Kailash’s cosmopolitan character and mix of affluent and middle-class residents make it a crucial political constituency.

The Greater Kailash Assembly constituency is one of the 70 legislative seats in Delhi and is expected to be a key battleground in the Delhi Assembly elections 2025. A high-profile contest is unfolding between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the BJP, and the Congress, making this one of the most closely watched races in the city. As the constituency represented by Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, it is set to attract significant political and public attention.

Greater Kailash - Demographic details

Established in 2008, the Greater Kailash constituency falls under the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat. Known for its affluence, it is one of Delhi’s most prestigious areas, where electoral choices are largely influenced by governance and developmental issues rather than caste-based voting.

The region is home to a diverse demographic, including Punjabis, Bengalis, and Vaishyas, along with a significant number of business professionals and salaried individuals. Some of its well-known residential and commercial localities include Panchsheel Enclave, Panchsheel Park, Greater Kailash Parts 1 and 2, Sheikh Sarai, and Chirag Enclave.

As a major residential and commercial hub, Greater Kailash is known for its bustling markets and vibrant urban lifestyle. The constituency has historically seen a high voter turnout, with 60 percent of the electorate participating in the 2020 Assembly elections. AAP’s Saurabh Bhardwaj secured a decisive victory in the last two elections, winning with 60,372 votes in 2020, defeating BJP’s Shikha Rai by a margin of 16,809 votes. The Congress candidate, Sukhbir Singh Pawar, managed only 3,339 votes.

The Greater Kailash seat has seen dynamic political shifts over the years.

In the 2015 elections, Bhardwaj retained his seat, defeating BJP’s Rakesh Kumar Gullaiya. The Congress had fielded Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, but she secured only 6,102 votes. Prior to AAP’s dominance, BJP’s Vijay Kumar Malhotra won the seat in 2008.

Greater Kailash’s cosmopolitan character and mix of affluent and middle-class residents make it a crucial political constituency. While it has traditionally leaned towards the BJP, AAP has managed to establish a stronghold in recent years. The role of key voter segments, including traders, professionals, and younger electorates, will be instrumental in shaping the outcome of the 2025 elections.

All eyes on a three-cornered fight

AAP has once again fielded its sitting MLA and senior leader Saurabh Bhardwaj, who has held the seat since 2013. This time, the BJP has nominated Shikha Rai, who previously contested from this constituency in the 2020 elections. Congress, on the other hand, has chosen Garvit Singhvi in a bid to reclaim its lost foothold in the area. With all three parties gearing up for an intense battle, the election results will be a key indicator of the political sentiment in South Delhi.

The counting of votes is scheduled to commence at 8 am on February 8. As per the Election Commission, the Greater Kailash constituency saw a voter turnout of approximately 54.5 percent - a decline from the 60.12 percent recorded in the 2020 assembly elections.