The Bharatiya Janata Party's Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of late veteran leader Sushma Swaraj, defeated AAP's Somnath Bharti to win the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 78,370 votes. Swaraj, a first-timer, was fielded by the BJP in place of outgoing MP and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi. With a seasoned background as a Supreme Court advocate and impressive legal acumen, Bansuri Swaraj entered the political arena brimming with experience and a lineage deeply ingrained in the highest tiers of government.
Hours before the poll results, she told the news agency Asian News International, "...I am completely confident that today the people of India will choose the public welfare policies of BJP, will choose the development policies of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi...I know Teesri Baar Phir Modi Sarkar."
As she prepares to embark on her inaugural journey into the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) banner, her candidacy signifies a momentous occasion in Indian political history.
Bansuri Swaraj Before Political Ascent
Bansuri Swaraj, an advocate at the Supreme Court of India, brings over 15 years of legal acumen to the political forefront. Enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 2007, she has left a lasting mark on the legal field with her adept handling of high-profile cases across diverse legal forums.
The official G20 engagement group focused on gender equity, Women 20, or W20 recognizes Bansuri as a key contributor to the legal arena. Her professional repertoire spans a spectrum of disputes, including contracts, real estate, tax, international commercial arbitrations, and criminal trials. Additionally, she has assumed the role of Additional Advocate General for the State of Haryana, seamlessly balancing public service with her private legal practice.
Armed with a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Warwick, she further honed her legal expertise at the prestigious BPP Law School in London, which led her to obtain the Barrister at Law qualification and subsequent admission to the bar by the Hon’ble Inn of Inner Temple, London. To crown her academic achievements, she holds a Master of Studies from the University of Oxford's St. Catherine’s College.
Political Ascent and Vision
Before clinching the ticket to contest the polls, Bansuri Swaraj served as the co-convenor of the legal cell of the BJP in Delhi. In an interview with news agency ANI, she expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda, and party workers for the bestowed opportunity.
"With the resolution of ‘ab ki baar 400 paar,’ every BJP worker will strive to re-elect Narendra Modi as the ‘Pradhan Sewak’ for the third time," she declared, epitomizing the party's commitment to continued leadership under Modi's stewardship.
AAP & INDIA Bloc Cast Doubt On Swaraj's Candidacy
The BJP's decision to field Bansuri Swaraj from the New Delhi constituency sparked a contentious debate, with the AAP levying serious allegations against her for association with "anti-national forces" due to her legal representation history.
Delhi Minister Atishi, speaking at a press conference, minced no words in questioning Bansuri Swaraj's suitability for candidacy, urging Swaraj to tender an apology to the nation for her legal engagements and demanding the BJP reconsider its candidate choice for the New Delhi constituency.
In response to the AAP's barrage of accusations, Bansuri Swaraj stood firm, refuting any insinuations of impropriety in her legal pursuits. She swiftly turned the spotlight onto the AAP's candidate selection process, highlighting a recent incident involving the alleged assault of their nominee by party members. Swaraj's rebuttal sought to deflect attention away from her legal history and towards the perceived flaws in the AAP's candidate vetting mechanism, thereby diluting the potency of their attacks against her.
Somnath Bharti, representing the INDIA bloc in the New Delhi constituency, joined the chorus of dissent against Bansuri Swaraj's candidacy, echoing the AAP's call for her and the BJP to issue an apology for what he deemed a "blunder."
The AAP's assault on Bansuri Swaraj's candidacy also coincided with outgoing BJP MP Harsh Vardhan's decision to withdraw from electoral politics. Atishi seized upon this opportunity to draw parallels between Vardhan's departure and her allegations against Swaraj, insinuating a causal link between political integrity and electoral viability.
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