LS Poll 2024: Bansuri Swaraj Wins New Delhi Seat

Ahead of the Lok Sabha election results, Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of the late Sushma Swaraj, visited the Birla Mandir to offer prayers.

In the 2024 elections, Bansuri Swaraj, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), defeated AAP’s Somnath Bharti to win the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 78,370 votes. As a first-time candidate, she replaced outgoing MP and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi. Bansuri, a seasoned Supreme Court advocate, entered politics with significant legal experience and a legacy deeply connected to the government.

Hours before the results, Bansuri expressed confidence in the BJP’s success, stating, “I am confident that today the people of India will choose the public welfare policies of BJP and the development policies of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi…I know Teesri Baar Phir Modi Sarkar.”

Her entry into politics marks a significant moment in Indian political history. Bansuri has over 15 years of legal experience, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi since 2007. She has handled high-profile cases and has served as Additional Advocate General for Haryana. Bansuri holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Warwick and a law degree from BPP Law School in London. She is also a Barrister at Law, admitted to the bar by the Hon’ble Inn of Inner Temple, London, and holds a Master of Studies from the University of Oxford’s St. Catherine’s College.

Before her candidacy, Bansuri was the co-convenor of the BJP’s legal cell in Delhi. She expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda, and party workers for the 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.

However, her candidacy sparked controversy. The AAP accused her of associations with “anti-national forces” due to her legal representation history. Delhi Minister Atishi demanded an apology from Bansuri and urged the BJP to reconsider her candidacy. Bansuri defended her legal career and criticized the AAP’s candidate selection, highlighting their internal issues.

Somnath Bharti, representing the INDIA bloc, also called for an apology, aligning with the AAP’s criticism. Despite these attacks, Bansuri Swaraj’s victory marked a significant political achievement for the BJP.

Re-reported from the article originally published in She the people.