New Delhi, Feb 4, 2025 – The stage is set for the Delhi Assembly Election 2025, with voting scheduled to take place on February 5 (Wednesday). Over 1.56 crore registered voters will exercise their franchise across 13,766 polling stations, deciding the fate of 699 candidates contesting for 70 assembly seats.
Triangular Contest Between AAP, BJP, and Congress
The election is expected to be a fierce three-way contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is seeking a historic third consecutive term, banking on his government’s welfare policies. Meanwhile, the BJP aims to end 25 years of political drought in Delhi, and the Congress, which ruled the city for 15 years until 2013, is fighting for a comeback after failing to win a single seat in the last two assembly elections.
Polling Schedule and Security Arrangements
Polling will begin at 7:00 AM and conclude at 6:00 PM under tight security. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed:
- 220 paramilitary companies
- 35,626 Delhi Police personnel
- 19,000 home guards
Around 3,000 polling stations have been marked as sensitive, with drone surveillance and additional security arrangements in place to prevent any untoward incidents. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and extra police forces will be deployed at high-risk locations. Special provisions have been made for senior citizens and differently-abled voters, with 733 polling booths designated for their convenience.
Technology for Voter Convenience
To ensure a smooth voting experience, the ECI has introduced a Queue Management System (QMS) app, allowing voters to check real-time crowd levels at their polling stations. Additionally, under the ‘Voting from Home’ initiative, 6,980 out of 7,553 eligible voters have already cast their votes.
High-Stakes Campaigning Concludes
The election campaign ended on Monday at 6:00 PM, after an intense battle between the major parties.
- AAP focused on its governance model, with CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Atishi holding multiple rallies across the city.
- BJP leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda, targeted AAP over corruption allegations, law and order issues, and governance failures.
- Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, criticized both AAP and BJP on various governance issues.
Key Election Issues and Freebie Promises
The campaign saw intense debates on key issues, including:
- “Sheesh Mahal” controversy (luxury renovations in CM residence)
- Yamuna water pollution
- Law and order
- Women’s safety
- Alleged voter list manipulations
All major parties have made populist promises:
- AAP: Free bus rides for students, insurance for auto and taxi drivers, and ₹18,000 financial aid for temple priests and gurudwara granthis.
- BJP: ₹21,000 maternity aid for pregnant women and subsidized LPG cylinders for ₹500.
- Congress: ₹8,500 monthly unemployment allowance.
What’s Next?
The election results, set to be declared on February 8, will reveal whether AAP retains power, BJP breaks its losing streak, or Congress makes a surprising comeback. With a high-stakes battle unfolding, all eyes are now on Delhi’s voters, who will shape the city’s political future in just a few hours.