The BJP officially named former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as their Chief Ministerial candidate in Delhi. (Press Trust of India)
The BJP has announced a list of 62 candidates and officially named former police officer Kiran Bedi as the party's chief ministerial candidate for the coming Assembly elections in Delhi.
Some seats were left for ally Shiromani Akali Dal, which contested four seats in the last election.
The list was released late on Monday night after a meeting of the party's Central Election Committee and the parliamentary board, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ms Bedi, who has been pitted against former associate and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, will be contesting from party bastion Krishna Nagar.
To take on Mr Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency, the party has fielded young member Nupur Sharma. Ms Sharma, a graduate from the London School of Economics, is a former president of the Delhi University students' election and is currently a leader of the BJP Youth wing.
Former Congress leader Krishna Tirath, who joined the BJP today, will be the nominee from Patel Nagar.
"The party has taken care that all sections of the society were given due representation. The party has renominated all its sitting MLAs and fielded over 20 youth and five women candidates," said BJP general secretary and Union Minister J P Nadda. Besides, all the sitting legislators have been fielded again.
Among the others, former Delhi minister and senior party leader Jagdish Mukhi will contest from Janakpuri and former Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta, from Rohini.
Former Delhi Assembly Speaker MS Dheer, who switched to BJP from AAP, will contest from Jangpura. Former AAP legislator Vinod Kumar Binny will contest from Patpargaj, where he faces AAP leader Manish Sisodia.
Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay, however, did not figure on the list. Mr Nadda said Mr Upadhyay will not contest the polls as the elections will be contested under his stewardship and he carries a lot of responsibility.
The elections are to be held on February 7, the counting of votes will take place on February 10.