Delhi CM Candidate Announcement Live: BJP general secretaries' meeting is likely to be held at 6 PM today

"The Chief Minister of Delhi gets a government residence, but there are some parameters for that government residence... The way this house was built like a Sheesh Mahal is a big betrayal to the people of Delhi... If you break the trust of the public, then it must be investigated... This CVC inquiry is very necessary, which should happen so that the truth can be revealed to the public," BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat tells news agency ANI on CVC ordering a probe into 6 Flagstaff Bungalow (Residence of former CM Arvind Kejriwal) renovations.

BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Garden announced on Friday that Mohalla Clinics would be renamed as "Ayushman Arogya Mandir" to serve as genuine healthcare centers. Speaking to news agency PTI, Sirsa claimed that under the Aam Aadmi Party government, Mohalla Clinics were affected by fraudulent tests and non-existent patients, making them sources of financial misuse. He added that the BJP government in Delhi plans to set up Ayushman Arogya Mandirs near JJ clusters to provide free primary healthcare to all residents in these areas.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) President Devender Yadav on Friday criticized the delay in appointing the BJP’s new Chief Minister, calling it a result of internal power struggles within the party.

He pointed out that nearly a week had passed since the Delhi Assembly election results were announced, yet there was no clarity on who would take on the role.

Yadav added that the ongoing uncertainty over the Chief Minister’s appointment was not in the best interest of Delhi’s residents.

AAP government maintained Delhi as a revenue surplus in the last 10 years, said outgoing CM Atishi on Friday, while alleging that the incoming BJP govt might claim there was no money in the coffers to avoid delivering on electoral promises.

BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, however, claimed that Delhi's treasury became empty due to “the corrupt governance” of AAP. He alleged that it had to seek a loan of Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre to pay salaries to the employees of the Delhi government.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva assured that his party would fulfill its electoral promises to slum dwellers after forming the government in the national capital. He also expressed gratitude to BJP workers involved in the 'Jhuggi Vistarak' campaign for the Delhi assembly elections. The campaign, launched in July 2019, aimed at reaching out to slum dwellers ahead of the February polls. The BJP secured a decisive victory in the assembly elections earlier this month, winning 48 seats.

Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters here, the party's national spokesperson Ajay Alok said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is returning (from his foreign visit) by tonight. There will be a meeting of our parliamentary board tomorrow or the day after. Delhi's new CM will be before you."

"I have written a letter to the Lieutenant Governor that Delhi government's IT department should investigate how Arvind Kejriwal hijacked the account of Delhi CMO while he was the CM... Secondly, on the lies being spread by acting CM Atishi, the Power DISCOMs should be directed to immediately offer clarity that she is cheating the public," said BJP's Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva tells news agency ANI.

Outgoing Delhi chief minister Atishi on Friday said "internal conflicts" are happening among BJP MLAs over portfolio allocation and accused the party of making excuses to avoid fulfilling its poll promises. Addressing a press conference, Atishi claimed that BJP leaders were engaged in a "tussle" over ministerial posts to "exploit" public funds.

She further alleged that the BJP had no intention of delivering the commitments the party made in its election manifesto.

"We have learned from our sources that the BJP is planning to blame the AAP for its failure to fulfil promises. They will claim that the Delhi government has no money due to the previous AAP administration," Atishi said.

Highlighting the AAP government's financial track record, she stated that Delhi's budget had increased from Rs 31,000 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 77,000 crore in 2024-25 during its tenure.

"In the last 10 years, Delhi's budget has grown 2.5 folds. The Arvind Kejriwal-led government even repaid the debt inherited from the previous Congress administration," the senior AAP leader added.

BJP on Thursday demanded the lieutenant governor's intervention regarding the renaming of the "CMO Delhi" handle on X to "Arvind Kejriwal At Work", allegedly at the behest of the former chief minister.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva urged LG VK Saxena to seek a report from the IT department on the renaming of the handle and its alleged use by the former Delhi chief minister.

In response, AAP said that BJP must stop making baseless allegations against AAP and focus on governing Delhi. "AAP ensured that Delhi gets 24/7 electricity. This should not be disrupted," it said. The BJP returned to power in Delhi after 26 years, defeating AAP. The BJP's govt is yet to be formed.

"It would not be an exaggeration to say that as soon as his corrupt govt collapsed, Arvind Kejriwal also became a digital looter," Sachdeva said. He condemned Kejriwal for allegedly renaming the CMO's official handle, created using public funds, for his own use.

Days after AAP lost the Delhi assembly polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray met Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday with a message to strengthen the fight for "free and fair" elections. Delhi BJP said the statement issued by AAP on behalf of Thackeray reflected its "desperation". Thackeray described the meeting as a "gesture of friendship".

"Govts keep coming and going but relationships continue. We met Kejriwal as a gesture of friendship. However, our democracy is not free and fair. Elections are not free and fair," he told reporters after the meeting.

He was accompanied by party MPs Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sanjay Dina Patil and Bhausaheb Wakchaure, among others. Thackeray earlier met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and AAP are constituents of the opposition's INDIA bloc. Thackeray said there was an urgent need for the INDIA bloc to strategise its next move.

"In this election, the Election Commission played a significant role. The BJP had its blessings," Thackeray said, reiterating Shiv Sena (UBT)'s charges that the voter count in Maharashtra increased by 47 lakh, which affected the poll outcome last year.

As the state gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday downplayed the impact of the Delhi polls' outcome in Bihar, claiming that the BJP stands no chance to form its govt in the state as the people have ‘recognised' the saffron fold.

Interacting with reporters outside the official residence of his wife and former CM Rabri Devi, Lalu predicted poll disasters for the BJP-led NDA. "Kaise bana lega sarkar? Hamlogon ke rahte sarkar bana lega? BJP ko log jan gaya hai (How will they (BJP) form the govt? Can it form govt as long as we are here? The people have come to understand the BJP)," he said.

Lalu dismissed the BJP's claim of repeating the Delhi assembly results in Bihar. "There will be no impact (of Delhi poll outcome) here. The BJP will go," he said, adding that the BJP has been exposed.

The NDA reacted sharply to Lalu's observations, claiming the ruling alliance would register a historic win in the upcoming elections. "We are not aware of Lalu Ji's fate, but it is a fact that the NDA will return to power," BJP's deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha said, alleging that the RJD regime created caste conflicts in society and brought disgrace to the state. "He (Lalu) destroyed Bihar. The people no longer want to see him in power," Sinha added.

After over eight years, the RSS has returned to its old address at Jhandewalan in the national capital, following the completion of the rebuilding project of its office, spread across over 3.75 acre with three 13-storey towers and 300 rooms on the premises.

The office, which used to be a two-storey building, has been rebuilt at a cost of nearly Rs 150 crore, collected through contributions from over 75,000 people sympathetic to the Hindutva organisation's ideology. Designed by Gujarat-based architect Anup Dave, it fuses modern technology with ancient architectural practices to make it airy and exposed to ample sunlight.

BJP is planning a grand oath-taking ceremony, perhaps at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, once Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his overseas trip. A party senior revealed on Thursday that alternative venues on the banks of the Yamuna or Ramlila Maidan were also being considered.

"Ramlila Maidan has a historical significance. Several important rallies and swearing-in ceremonies have been held there in the past,” the functionary said, adding that BJP was also contemplating the swearing-in on the river bank, a nod perhaps to the party’s electoral promises to clean the Yamuna. In a campaign rally, Modi has castigated AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal for remarks about Haryana poisoning the river water and said AAP would sink in the Yamuna in the assembly elections.

Enthused by the fact that their party has returned to power in Delhi after 27 long years, the workers are demanding to be allowed to attend the swearing-in ceremony, disclosed a party functionary. He, however, said JLN Stadium hadn’t been finalised as the venue, but is the front runner because of the convenience of several VIP gates there for the use of the PM, Union ministers and CMs expected to attend the function. He said that several MPs from NDA-ruled states would also be present.

“BJP will leave no stone unturned to make the oath-taking ceremony grand,” the functionary said and expected more than 200 MPs and former MPs who participated in the campaigning to be invited along with party workers from Delhi.

Outgoing Delhi chief minister Atishi alleged that long power cuts have returned to Delhi within days of the assembly election, but BJP said AAP was trying to spread “falsehood” and “confusion”. Addressing a press conference, Atishi claimed that more than 40 outages were reported from different areas of the city and people have now started buying inverters. She added that under AAP govt, the power sector was continuously monitored, but it collapsed within three days with BJP winning the election.

“BJP has pushed the city into a power crisis, with hours-long electricity cuts, disrupting daily life. BJP does not know how to govern. It would create a situation of long power outage in Delhi akin to Uttar Pradesh,” she alleged.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, however, accused AAP of engaging in spreading falsehoods and confusion regarding power cuts. “Entire Delhi knows of the exploitation done by the Arvind Kejriwal led govt in collusion with power distribution companies. We exposed i t. When BJP govt is set to take over, the caretaker chief minister is conspiring and using fear tactics. There is no power outage anywhere in Delhi. Due to collusion between the acting chief minister and power discoms, an excessive amount of time is being taken to repair breakdowns at some places,” Sachdeva claimed.

Sachdeva warned power discoms of investigation against them if they delayed the repair work.