Delhi Assembly election 2025: High-octane campaign ends; AI spoofs, roadshows set stage for February 5 battle

BJP national president JP Nadda on Monday (February 3, 2025) launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), asserting that the upcoming elections are a battle for Delhi’s future to make it Viksit Delhi’.

At a public meeting in Burari, Mr. Nadda expressed confidence in the growing discontent against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“The enthusiasm I see here is a clear indication that Kejriwal’s journey will come to a standstill on the 5th of next month,” he said.

He urged voters from all communities to support the BJP, emphasising, “We need every vote to bring about this change.” “This election is not just about the BJP’s lotus symbol or any other party’s symbol; it is about changing Delhi’s fate and image,” Mr. Nadda said, urging voters to bring an end to what he termed as “AAP-da”.

He accused the AAP government of stalling progress in Delhi and called for a return to a “Viksit Delhi.” Mr. Nadda criticised the AAP government’s governance style, alleging that their daily routine consisted only of holding press conferences and blaming the Central government.

- PTI

Hitting out at the AAP government in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday (February 3, 2025) it denies students to take Class 10 exams if they perform poorly in Class 9 so that board exam results are not marred, and its image is protected.

In an interaction with a group of students in New Delhi, he said, “I have heard that in Delhi they do not promote students to Class 10 if they perform poorly in Class 9.”

“They only allow those students in Class 10 who are guaranteed to clear the exam. They fear that if the results are poor, the image of their government will be tarnished,” the PM said in the interaction, a short video of which was shared by BJP leaders on social media.

BJP leaders said Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party compromised students’ future just to make its education model appear successful.

“Instead of focusing on improving learning outcomes, they denied students the opportunity to take exams, prioritising propaganda over real progress,” a BJP leader said.

- PTI

Most GenZ voters in Delhi are aware of candidates in their constituencies, and women safety, unemployment and pollution are the main pressing issues for them, a study has found.

Around 74% of respondents believe that freebies matter and influence votes around the elections, according to the study that was conducted to find how Delhi’s youth engages with democracy.

“Seven in 10 GenZers turn up to vote consistently, with 71% having participated in past elections. 88% are aware of the candidates from their constituency,” the study report said, adding that Delhi’s young voters, aged 18-26 years, are aware, active and engaged around state polls.

The study, GenZer’sTryst with Polls, revealed that Women Safety (85%) in the city is a top priority, followed by Unemployment (60%) and Pollution (56%) among poll issues for GenZ voters.

Around 44% consider Delhi’s Law and Order to be poor. Around 35% of them consider social media as their primary source of information, 26% look to independent blogs and websites, the study of 1,000 participants found.

Tarundeep Singh, Lead, The 23 Watts Insights Studio, said, “Contrary to popular belief, young voters in Delhi are well-informed, engaged, and eager to make a difference in the upcoming elections.”

- PTI

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal holds roadshow in support of Delhi CM and party’s candidate from Kalkaji assembly seat, Atishi 

More than 150 companies of paramilitary forces and over 30,000 police personnel will be deployed across Delhi ahead of the Assembly polls, an official said on Monday (February 3, 2025).

Special CP (Crime) and In-charge of the Election Cell, Devesh Chandra Srivastva, outlined the preparations for the February 5 polls in the national capital.

“All Delhi Police personnel are committed to ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections. The pre-poll arrangements have already been made,” he said. - PTI

For many voters living in night shelters across the Capital, poll promises ring hollow, and they’re unsure about what the future holds.

Sitting outside a tin shed room at a night shelter near Bangla Sahib, 35-year-old Vineeta Devi says she was born and raised on the footpaths of Connaught Place and hasn’t been able to break the cycle of poverty.

Read the full story,

‘No end to this nightmare’: Delhi’s night shelter inmates tired of empty promises

Delhi's marginalized voters in night shelters express disillusionment with empty promises ahead of Assembly election.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said people in Delhi will have to choose between education, development and women’s upliftment on one side and “misconduct” on the other as they go out to vote on Wednesday.

“We have distributed spy cameras and body cameras among people living in slum areas to capture the misdeeds of BJP’s goons. We have also formed multiple Quick Response Teams (QRTs) which will reach such locations within 15 minutes to prevent unconstitutional activities and ensure the perpetrators are arrested.” the AAP chief said.- PTI

“BJP said where will the money come from, Kejriwal is lying. Did I not provide free electricity? Did I not provide free water? Did I not build schools and provide free education?”, says Arvind Kejriwal.

“BJP can be seen campaigning everywhere, somewhere they are distributing money, somewhere liquor, and they are not allowing our people to campaign AAP candidate”, says Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP candidate from Greater Kailash Assembly seat.

Firing a fresh salvo at Manish Sisodia, who is contesting from the Jangpura Assembly seat against BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah, Mr. Shah said he is the only education minister in the country who went to jail in connection with a liquor scam.

He alleged that Mr. Kejriwal lied to the people of Delhi and gave them only garbage, toxic water, and corruption.

Read the full story here,

Delhi Assembly elections 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah election rally in Jangpura and calls AAP leaders Kejriwal and Sisodia as bade miyan and chote miyan

Amit Shah criticizes AAP, promises development in Delhi, and highlights BJP achievements in public meeting.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on Monday (February 3, 2025) hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly using “threats” and “hooliganism” ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.

Mr. Sisodia claimed that the public would answer the BJP’s actions through their votes and re-elect Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister.

“The public will answer BJP’s hooliganism with their votes. Baba Saheb made the people (Public) the masters by creating a democratic system.” said he. - ANI

Office of Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi writes to all political parties regarding the prohibition to display any election matter using cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus and holding public meetings during period of 48 hours ending with hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll during the General Election.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi in a post on social media account “X” on Monday (February 3, 2025) stated that Election Commission of India has deployed three types of independent observers namely Independent General Observer, Independent Police Observer and Independent Expenditure Observer in all the 70 Assembly Constituencies of Delhi.

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Delhi Assembly election 2025: Delhi Chief Electoral Office shares details of independent observers of New Delhi AC

Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi deploys Independent Observers in all 70 Assembly Constituencies; details of New Delhi AC Observers shared.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday (February 3, 2025) claimed that Arvind Kejriwal will lose the New Delhi Assembly seat, stating that Delhi Police has controlled his “goons” and that Purvanchalis feel safer with the BJP due to provisions in the Union Budget.

“FM Nirmala Sitharaman has given things for Purvanchali, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh...Purvanchalis are finding themselves safe with the BJP”, the BJP MP said. - ANI

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi interacts with people and distributes pamphlets while campaigning for party candidate Farhad Suri from Jangpura Assembly seat. 

The Delhi High Court on Monday (February 3, 2025) refused to grant urgent hearing to a plea alleging violation of election laws by political parties ahead of assembly polls in the national capital.

A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said the matter would be heard in the normal course whenever it was listed. The petitioner’s counsel sought urgent listing of the case at 2 pm.

“Why 2 pm? You are challenging action of political parties in announcing freebies. Tomorrow is the last day for electioneering or maybe today. Whatever impact the freebies were to have has already happened,” the court remarked. - PTI

It feels that the Election Commission doesn’t even exist, said Arvind Kejriwal on Monday (February 3, 2025)

Commenting on Chief Election Commissioner, he said, “Which post-retirement post has been promised to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who is retiring at the end of this month, in return for which the country’s democracy is being destroyed? Governor’s post? President’s post?”

“I request Rajiv Kumar ji with folded hands, please do your duty and let go of the greed for a post and don’t destroy the country’s democracy”, said Mr. Kejriwal - The Hindu Bureau

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday, February 3, “Now it is clear that if double-engine comes, then no one will be spared, and the double-engine will run over them.”

“People have two options: On one side a party of honest people and on the other side hooliganism. Delhi will not tolerate this hooliganism.” said Mr. Kejriwal - The Hindu Bureau

Shiv Sena MP (UBT) Sanjay Raut says, “Modi ji is visiting Kumbh to take a holy dip. He thinks that the people of Delhi will vote for him on this basis. If people vote on this basis democracy is in danger in the country. Kejriwal ji should get votes based on the work he has done.” - ANI

From AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to his long-time loyalist Manish Sisodia, riots accused Tahir Hussain and Shifa-ur Rehman, several candidates in fray for Delhi Assembly polls have been to jail in connection with different cases, including corruption and riots.

According to political experts, candidates having been to jail at some point, does not necessarily affect their popularity as politicians. In some cases, if a politician does benefit in terms of public sympathy by being jailed, it does not necessarily translate into votes.

- PTI

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini lashed out at former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of corruption and tarnishing the reputation of his birthplace, saying that “Kejriwal’s place is in Tihar jail.”

“Corrupt Kejriwal has tarnished the land where he was born. His place is not in Haryana but in Tihar jail,” posted Mr. Saini on his handle on X.

He also posted a video on X, wherein he could be seen attacking Mr. Kejriwal over corruption in the national capital.

“The ‘bhrashtachari’ (corrupt) Arvind Kejriwal has betrayed the people of Delhi, after February 5, he will be sent to Tihar jail,” the Haryana CM said in the video.

- ANI

The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) stated that no written complaints have been found regarding AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations of BJP workers intimidating and harassing his party’s volunteers in the New Delhi Assembly constituency.

In response to Mr. Kejriwal’s request for independent observers and police action, the Delhi CEO’s office, in a letter, informed the AAP leader that the matter was reviewed by the District Election Officer (DEO) and the Delhi Police. However, “no written complaints could be traced in most of the cases,” he said.

Earlier yesterday, Mr. Kejriwal had written to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), urging protection for AAP workers and the suspension of police officials for allegedly failing to prevent attacks by BJP supporters.

- PTI