New Delhi: After 27 years in political exile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power in Delhi on Saturday, winning 48 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections. This victory marked a significant shift, as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) only secured 22 seats, a sharp decline of 40 seats compared to the 2019 elections. The Congress party, on the other hand, failed to win any seats in the national capital once again. A key moment in the results was in the ‘New Delhi’ constituency, where AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal faced a surprising defeat, which was attributed to BJP’s Parvesh Verma. This victory saw Verma emerge as the "king slayer," defeating Kejriwal by a margin of 4,089 votes.

Parvesh Verma's Victory Over Arvind Kejriwal

Parvesh Verma, a former two-term Lok Sabha MP from West Delhi, garnered 30,088 votes, while Kejriwal received 25,999 votes. Verma’s victory in the New Delhi constituency made waves across the city. This electoral upset has generated a strong buzz, especially in the city of Dhar, which is connected to Parvesh Verma through his in-laws.

Parvesh Verma’s Dhar Connection

Verma’s connection to Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, is significant due to his marriage to Swati (Rinku), the daughter of BJP MLA Neena Verma. Following his win, BJP workers from Dhar gathered at Neena Verma’s house to celebrate, with festivities including fireworks, drum beats, and sweet distributions. BJP Mandal President Vishal Nigam shared that Parvesh Verma played an active role in campaigning for Neena Verma’s election and maintained strong relations with BJP workers from Dhar. A large group of workers from Dhar had traveled to Delhi to support Verma’s campaign.

Swati Verma’s Political Background

Swati Verma, Parvesh's wife, hails from a well-established political family in Madhya Pradesh. Her mother, Neena Verma, currently serves as an MLA, and her father, Vikram Verma, was the Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. Vikram Verma was also a Union Minister during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and a prominent figure in the state's politics. Swati’s family has had a lasting influence in both state and national politics.

A Look at Parvesh Verma's Background

Born in 1977, Parvesh Verma is the son of Sahib Singh Verma, a veteran BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Delhi who passed away in 2007. Parvesh Verma also carries forward his family’s legacy in politics. His uncle, Azad Singh, served as the mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation and ran unsuccessfully as a BJP candidate in the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections. Parvesh Verma continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of Delhi, following in the footsteps of his influential family.

The Verma Family Legacy in Madhya Pradesh Politics

Parvesh’s in-laws, Neena and Vikram Verma, have had notable careers in the political arena. Vikram Verma served as an MLA four times and as the Minister of Education and Sports in Madhya Pradesh. He also represented the state in the Rajya Sabha from 2002 to 2004, during which he was appointed the Sports Minister in the Vajpayee government. Later, in 2006, he was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha and became the National Vice President of the BJP. Swati Verma, who completed her MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Foreign Trade, Pune, in 2002, and Parvesh have three children: a son, Shiven, and two daughters, Sanidhya and Prisha.