New Delhi, Jan 7: The Election Commission of India has announced that elections to the Delhi Legislative Assembly will be held in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes scheduled for February 8. Candidates have until January 17 to file their nominations, with scrutiny set for January 18 and the deadline for withdrawal of candidature on January 20.
With the announcement of the poll dates, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into effect across the National Capital Territory (NCT) and will remain in place until the election process concludes.
The final voter list for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, published on January 6, records 1,55,24,858 registered voters in Delhi—a modest net increase of 1.09%.
Political Battleground Intensifies
As the elections approach, political parties have ramped up their campaigns. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sharpened its attacks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, targeting him over his alleged involvement in the Delhi Excise Policy case. The BJP has expressed confidence in forming a “double-engine” government, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of corruption and misgovernance.
In response, the AAP, which is seeking a third consecutive term in power, has focused its campaign on its achievements in the education and health sectors—key pillars of its governance model.
The Congress, which has faced significant setbacks in the last two assembly elections, is determined to regain its footing. Despite failing to secure any seat in the 2020 polls, the party has fielded prominent candidates in this high-stakes election.
Key Constituency Clashes
In the high-profile New Delhi constituency, the BJP has fielded Parvesh Verma, former MP and son of ex-Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, to take on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Congress has entered the fray with Sandeep Dixit, son of former Delhi CM Sheila Dixit, adding another layer of prestige to the contest.
In Kalkaji, the BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri will face AAP’s Atishi, a sitting MLA and one of Kejriwal’s closest allies. The Congress has positioned its candidate, former MLA Alka Lamba, in the same constituency.
Context and Stakes
The AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections, winning 62 of the 70 seats, while the BJP secured only eight. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years until 2013, is now fighting to reclaim its relevance in a city where it has lost its once-formidable base.
As campaign rhetoric heats up and candidates take their messages to the streets, Delhi is poised for yet another gripping political showdown.
Recent Comments