With the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gearing up to select its new Chief Minister after a historic victory in the February 8 assembly elections, the race for the top political post has become a topic of intense online discussion.
The BJP’s impressive win, securing 48 out of 70 seats, has prompted widespread speculation about who will be the next face to lead the national capital.
As the newly-elected legislators prepare for their crucial meeting on February 19 to make the final decision, an analysis of online buzz and social media activity sheds light on the front-runners for the role.
The leading contenders for the Chief Minister position are Parvesh Verma, former Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, Rekha Gupta, Satish Upadhyay, Ashish Sood, and Jitender Mahajan. Among these, Parvesh Verma, a prominent BJP leader, has garnered the most attention on social media platforms.
Since the assembly election results were announced, Verma has experienced a surge in popularity, with a significant increase in his followers across various social media channels.
On Instagram alone, Verma added over 80,000 followers, while on X (formerly Twitter), he attracted nearly 18,000 new followers. This online presence is a strong indicator of his widespread recognition and appeal among the party's supporters.
Rekha Gupta, a member of the BJP who won the Shalimar Bagh seat, is another candidate closely watched by political analysts and social media users alike. She has seen a steady rise in her online following, with over 600 new followers on X and nearly 1,000 on Instagram in the period since the elections.
Gupta has also emerged as a key player in terms of online mentions, surpassing other contenders in terms of activity on social media. In the past week alone, Gupta was mentioned in over 2,300 posts on X, making her one of the most talked-about leaders in the race.
While Verma and Gupta are seen as the top contenders based on online buzz, other BJP leaders like Vijender Gupta, Satish Upadhyay, and Ashish Sood have also witnessed a significant rise in interest.
Former Leader of Opposition, Vijender Gupta, added 416 followers on X, while Satish Upadhyay gained 477 new followers. Ashish Sood, too, experienced a surge in his social media following, particularly on Instagram, where he added over 1,000 new followers.
However, not all potential candidates have seen the same level of online engagement. Jitender Mahajan, for example, has struggled to generate substantial interest on social media, with little to no significant increase in his follower count.
This lack of digital presence could play a role in his chances of being selected for the Chief Minister post.
An interesting trend that has emerged in the days following the election results is the fluctuating online search interest in the potential Chief Minister candidates.
For the first few days after February 8, Parvesh Verma was the most searched BJP leader, indicating that he was the primary choice for many people looking to understand more about the candidates.
However, in the last couple of days, Rekha Gupta has gained the most attention in online searches, with users particularly interested in her career details, age, and other personal information.
This shift in online interest further fuels the speculation that Gupta could be a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s position.
The BJP is expected to announce its decision regarding the Chief Minister on February 19, with a meeting of newly-elected legislators planned for that day. According to party sources, 15 names have been shortlisted for various key posts, including Chief Minister, cabinet ministers, and the Speaker.
BJP National President J P Nadda has expressed confidence that the selection process will be swift, stating that it will be finalised within 15 minutes when the party leadership meets. Following the decision, the oath-taking ceremony for the new Chief Minister will be held on February 20.
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