Delhi Assembly election 2025 highlights: PM pitches ‘Modi’s guarantee’; Congress sets up panel to monitor ‘conduct of fair polls’ by EC

​

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday (February 2, 2025) slammed Arvind Kejriwal over his “Yamuna poisoning” allegation, saying no Hindu would poison anyone’s water, and claimed the river was in a bad shape in the national capital because of the AAP supremo’s “sins”.

Addressing a public meeting in support of the BJP candidate in Babarpur, the Assam Chief Minister said Mr. Kejriwal had promised to pay a monthly salary to priests because of the elections.

Otherwise, he only thinks of maulanas, Mr. Sarma claimed.

“We are Hindus and offering water to anyone is considered auspicious in the religion. How can a Hindu poison another’s water? How is this even possible? How will a BJP government in Haryana poison water, which is consumed by leaders of its own party in Delhi? Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi drinking poisoned water?” Mr. Sarma asked.

“The Yamuna is in a bad shape in Delhi not because of anyone poisoning it from Haryana but because of Kejriwal’s sins. He had promised that he would not contest elections till the Yamuna was cleaned. What happened to his claim?” he questioned.

- PTI

A “double-engine” government in Delhi will ensure the national capital’s overall development, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami declared on Sunday (February 2, 2025).

Addressing an election rally in Bawana, he said the Narendra Modi government provided relief to the middle class, with the Union Budget raising the exemption threshold for Income Tax to ₹12 lakh from the earlier ₹7 lakh.

This is going to directly benefit one crore middle-class people in Delhi, he asserted.

Under PM Modi’s leadership, many infrastructure development works are underway around the country. All these works, which never happened after Independence, are being done in 10 years, he said.

“The Prime Minister is working for the common people’s betterment. And the ‘AAPda (disaster)‘ government in Delhi is only trying to create hurdles in development works. It has misled people by spreading false propaganda,” Mr. Dhami alleged.

- PTI

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who accused Sonia Gandhi of insulting President Droupadi Murmu, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the attempt to make it an election issue was an insult to people struggling with problems of inflation and unemployment.

Addressing a public meeting in Seemapuri in New Delhi, Priyanka Gandhi said Prime Minister Modi and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal are alike and both are “slaves of these big industrialists”.

The Congress general secretary slammed Modi for raising the issue of Sonia Gandhi’s remarks about Ms. Murmu after the President’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on Friday.

“Modi ji that day said about my mother that she had insulted the President. What kind of issue did they raise? One elderly woman is expressing her sympathy for another elderly woman, saying that ‘bechari Rashtrapati ji thak gayi hongi ek ghante ka bhashan unko padhna pada (President would have been tired as she was made to read out an address for an hour)‘.

“They attempted to make this an election issue, saying it is an insult. You are insulting the people of the country who are struggling due to inflation and unemployment, they are not getting pensions and safai karamcharis are troubled, and you are talking about these useless things,” she said. 

- PTI

​

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Sunday (February 2, 2025) launched the party’s fourth campaign song for the Delhi Assembly elections, three days before the February 5 polling day. 

The song — “Dil Walo Ki Dilli Ko Ab BJP Sarkar Chahiye” — has been sung by former MP Dinesh Lal Yadav, while senior BJP leader Neel Kant Bakshi is its creative director.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Tiwari told mediapersons that when the BJP announced its manifesto, someone asked him how the party plans to fulfil all the promises made in it.

“I responded by saying that whatever is mentioned in the manifesto is already being implemented in Haryana and Maharashtra,” Mr. Tiwari said.

“The discussions led to the idea of launching another campaign song to raise awareness among the residents of Delhi,” he said.

“We felt the people of Delhi should be informed about these developments, and that’s when the idea for this song was conceived,” the BJP MP from Northeast Delhi said.

- PTI

The Congress on Sunday (February 2, 2025) set up an eight-member committee — Empowered Action Group of Leaders and Experts (EAGLE) — to monitor the conduct of free and fair elections by the Election Commission of India.

The committee will first take up the Maharashtra voters’ list manipulation issue, and submit a detailed report to the leadership at the earliest, the party said in a statement.

The panel includes Congress treasurer Ajay Maken and senior leaders Digvijaya Singh, Abhishek Singhvi, Praveen Chakravarty and Pawan Khera.

Besides Maharashtra, ‘EAGLE’ will also analyse past elections in other states, and proactively monitor upcoming elections and all other issues related to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.

Read the full story below

‘EAGLE’: Congress sets up panel to monitor conduct of fair polls by ECI

Congress forms EAGLE committee to monitor Election Commission, starting with Maharashtra voter list manipulation issue.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched an online portal, aapkibachat.com, on Sunday (February 2, 2025), allowing Delhi residents to calculate their savings from the free welfare schemes provided by the AAP-led government.

Announcing the launch at a press conference, AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, “For the people of Delhi, we are introducing this new portal where they can check how much they are saving through our free welfare schemes, such as free electricity, free water, and more.”

Ms. Kakkar claimed that the AAP-led Delhi government helps residents save a minimum of ₹25,000 per month through these initiatives.

- PTI

Ahead of assembly elections in Delhi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday (February 2, 2025) urged voters to choose “education over violence”, stating that the Aam Aadmi Party is working towards empowering youth.

Addressing a roadshow in Jangpura as part of the AAP’s election campaign, CM Mann claimed that the people of Delhi have already made up their minds and the voting on February 5 is just a “formality”.

“People have only two options, one is a party that prioritises education and the other that thrives on conflict. You must decide which path to take,” CM Mann said.

He emphasised AAP’s focus on education and youth empowerment, saying, “It is up to you. Do you want to give your children weapons or books? Our party will place pens and books in their hands, not swords.” Mann also took a dig at the BJP, accusing them of hoarding wealth and using public money for electoral gains.

- PTI

The AAP dispensation in Delhi refused central assistance out of fear that the credit would go to the Narendra Modi-led Union government, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed on Sunday (February 2, 2025).

Speaking at an election rally in Rajendra Nagar, the veteran leader said India’s economy had grown under the BJP government but Delhi did not benefit from it.

“The BJP has not got an opportunity to serve Delhi in a long time… Delhi did not get the development it deserves,” Mr. Singh said.

“When India is developing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, why should Delhi be left behind? The city government does not take the Centre’s help. We don’t discriminate against any state but the (Delhi) chief minister is afraid that Modi ji will get the credit,” he said.

Attacking former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the Defence Minister alleged that he did not resign even when he was sent to jail in the liquor policy case.

- PTI

As the campaigning for the Delhi Assembly polls enters its last leg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (February 2, 2025) said the Union Budget has brought cheer to every average household even as he called it the “most middle class friendly budget in India’s history”.

Addressing an election rally in RK Puram in New Delhi, the Prime Minister reiterated his poll slogan of “Modi ki guarantee” and played up the pro-middle class provisions in the Budget which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented.

Leading the campaign push, PM greeted people on ‘Basant Panchami’ and said the festival marks a change of season and people of Delhi have also made up their mind to elect a BJP government.

- PTI

With Delhi polls scheduled for Wednesday (February 5, 2025), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Delhi R. Alice Vaz on Sunday (February 2, 2025) said that more than 6,000 complaints regarding violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) have been filed in the last 25 days.

To ensure a level playing field for all political parties contesting the elections, Ms. Vaz emphasised that the permissions for campaign meetings are granted without any interference. 

However, these permissions must be applied through the online platform.

“When MCC came into force - as elections were announced - we immediately had meetings with all political parties at the CEO and DEO level. If the political parties want to hold meetings for campaign purposes, they will have to apply online. We ensure that permissions to all are given without any interference. We have a cVIGIL application. If anyone has any complaint, they can immediately file the complaint using our portal. They can share the photo or even the video of the offence. We have to respond to it in 100 minutes - our average response time is 36 minutes. More than 6,000 complaints have been filed in the last 25 days,” said the CEO Delhi.

- ANI

In the fray on a BJP ticket, Manjinder Singh Sirsa is credited with ending the Congress’ domination in the Rajouri Garden seat with his victory in the 2013 Delhi Assembly polls and wresting the constituency from the ruling AAP in the 2017 bypoll.

Locked in a triangular battle with the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the upcoming Delhi assembly polls, Sirsa, 52, is contesting from the same seat and is confident of emerging victorious for the third time. 

“After winning, my focus will be to ensure the supply of potable water to people living in the constituency and make its roads better and cleaner,” two-time MLA Sirsa told PTI when asked about his priorities if he is elected from the seat. 

“The biggest problem in this constituency is that people are getting dirty water. The second problem is broken and dirty roads. Garbage is scattered all over the constituency. Cable wires hanging everywhere is another big problem here,” he said.

- PTI

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted a door-to-door campaign in preparation for the Delhi Assembly elections.

Speaking to ANI, he said that Delhi’s harmony, culture, and historic tradition must be revived, adding that people have decided to vote for BJP to ensure the city’s development.

”Delhi’s harmony, culture and historic tradition have to be revived and people have made up their mind to vote for BJP to make Delhi developed,” he said.

Reacting to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s letter to the Election Commission, Mr. Vaishnaw said, “Kejriwal ji has understood that people of Delhi have made up their mind. So, he is bringing out sometime or the other. Be assured, when people have made up their mind, they will ‘bloom lotus’.”

- ANI

Reaching out to people from Purvanchal, PM Modi noted that he is an MP from the region, a reference to Varanasi.

He added that the National Democratic Alliance government is working day and night to develop Bihar and mentioned several state-specific proposals in the Budget.

- PTI

For Vikshit Bharat, we need the youth of our country, that’s why in this budget, we have put aside thousands and crores of money for them and tried to bring in jobs, PM Modi said. The most benefit of the no tax under ₹12 lakh will benefit the youth the most, who are doing their first or second jobs..

In Delhi, many of our youth are working as gig workers, pushing the gig economy, Mr. Modi added. These lakhs of jobs, were made by the push by BJP’s Digital India. BJP is looking to register these gig workers, on a portal, and that will give them unlimited benefits from the government including the benefits of insurance. I am seeing, that this is making them happy already, he said.

While addressing his final rally in capital ahead of polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “The budget presentation that came yesterday was an example of Modi’s guarantee being fulfilled.”

Yesterday’s budget was a budget for the people of this country. The BJP government is investing the money of this country into roads, schools, hospitals, infrastructure and more.

Let me paint a picture for you, if it was the Nehru Government, and you were earning ₹12 lakh, then approximately 1/4th of your salary would’ve gone to the government. Under the Indira Gandhi government, you would have to give over ₹2 lakh in tax. But now in the BJP government, someone earning ₹12 lakh per annum will not have to give any money to the government, Mr. Modi said

He further said the Congress govt only put tax to fill their own coffers, but BJP looks at relief for the people.

PM Modi refers to AAP leaders quitting party, says they have realised how much angry people are with the party.

‘AAP-da’ wasted 11 years in Delhi, city will get double-engine government this time, Mr. Modi said at a BJP rally in R.K. Puram.

- PTI

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to mislead residents of jhuggis (slums) by offering them ₹3,000 and promising home voting through the Election Commission. 

Speaking about the issue, Mr. Kejriwal said, “Today, I have received many calls from jhuggis. Their (BJP) party is going door to door and asking the people living there - take ₹3,000, and the Election Commission will facilitate home voting. I was shocked when I heard this. This is a conspiracy to trap you.”

The Delhi Chief Minister warned people not to fall for the alleged trap, saying he “could not sleep” after hearing about the matter.

- ANI

AIMIM candidate Tahir Hussain, accused in the 2020 Delhi riots, has been granted custody parole by the Supreme Court to campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections.

However, Hussain on Sunday alleged that he’s not getting adequate time to campaign, citing that it takes him two hours to travel to and from jail, leaving him with less than 8 hours to campaign.

Hussain expressed his concerns to the police administration, hoping to get the full 12 hours to campaign today and tomorrow.

“On the direction of the Supreme Court, I was given 12 hours to campaign for the (Delhi assembly) elections. It takes one hour to get here (Mustafabad assembly constituency area) from the jail, and then another hour to go back. Before today, I used to be brought here around 9:30 - 10 am, and they used to take me back before 5 pm. So I was not getting even 8 hours (to campaign). I had expressed my concern to the police administration about this... I hope that today and tomorrow I get the full-time to campaign,” Hussain told ANI.

He also accused the BJP and his former party, AAP, of trying to hinder his electoral efforts in the Mustafabad constituency.

- ANI

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal o launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing it of resorting to “hooliganism” as the Delhi Assembly elections near.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Kejriwal claimed that AAP is heading towards a “decisive win” in the February 5 polls, which has left BJP leaders, particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah, “baffled and desperate”.

“AAP is sweeping the polls, and Amit Shah is baffled. The BJP has resorted to hooliganism because they can sense defeat,” Mr/ Kejriwal alleged.

He also accused BJP workers of threatening and assaulting AAP volunteers and supporters.

“Our leaders and supporters are being threatened to join the BJP or face arrest and attacks. But we cannot be scared,” he said, adding that Delhi will not tolerate such “intimidation tactics”.

In response to the alleged threats, Mr. Kejriwal announced the launch of a new social media campaign with the hashtag ‘AmitShahKiGoondagardi’ on X.

- PTI

Ahead of the Assembly polls, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government for “failing” to provide essential services to residents, and said he feels “ashamed” to admit abroad that people in the national capital lack basic amenities under central schemes.

He further said that Delhi has been “left behind” over the past decade and urged voters to consider a change in government when they cast their ballots on February 5.

During an interaction with the voters of Delhi on ‘Viksit Delhi-Viksit Bharat,’ Mr. Jaishankar said, “Whenever I visit foreign countries, I hide one thing from the world. I feel ashamed to go abroad and say that people living in the national capital do not get houses, do not get gas cylinders, or piped water under Jal Jeevan Mission and do not get the benefit of Ayushman Bharat.”

He added, “It is unfortunate that in the last 10 years, Delhi has been left behind. The residents of Delhi are not given their rights to water, electricity, gas, cylinders, health treatment. If the government here does not give you your rights then on 5th February you also think that this government should be changed.”

- ANI

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday hailed the Narendra Modi government’s decision to raise the income tax exemption threshold, saying it will give a boost to the aspirations of young professionals working in multinational companies and the middle class. 

The ruling AAP, however, criticised the Budget, stating that the middle class has been “deceived” as there is no relief on GST or home loans. Mr. Kejriwal said that he had demanded that the Budget announce that no billionaire’s loans will be waived in the future. 

Due to the Election Commission’s directive, there were no new schemes announced for Delhi in the Budget.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav accused AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal of being a liar and making false promises.

Addressing a poll rally in Tri Nagar, the BJP leader also declared that no scheme implemented by the AAP government in Delhi would be scrapped if the saffron party assumed office after the February 5 assembly election.

“People of Delhi have realised Kejriwal is a liar,” Mr. Yadav said.

Slamming AAP, he accused the former chief minister of making false promises.

“He [Kejriwal] said he would clean the Yamuna but that did not happen... He said he would live in a two-room house... All his promises were lies,” Yadav said.

“Kejriwal said we would shut the Ladli Behna scheme in Madhya Pradesh... There is an FIR registered against him in Madhya Pradesh for this lie... If the BJP comes to power in Delhi, all schemes [implemented by the AAP government] will continue,” he said.

- PTI

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has alleged attack on his party workers ahead of the Delhi assembly polls and demanded that the Election Commission appoint independent observers in his New Delhi constituency.

In a letter to the Election Commission, Mr. Kejriwal has also demanded arrest of BJP workers allegedly involved in such incidents and suspension of police officers concerned.

No immediate reaction was available from the BJP and the Delhi Police over Mr. Kejriwal’s claims.

In the letter, the former Delhi chief minister also cited some alleged incidents of attack on AAP workers in his New Delhi constituency.

AAP MLA Mohinder Goyal was allegedly assaulted during a public rally in Rohini area here on Saturday.

- PTI