Delhi News Live Updates: The Election Commission stated that it would absorb such outbursts with wisdom and composure, refusing to be influenced by these insinuations. (Source: File)Delhi Assembly Election 2025 Highlights: The Election Commission posted on X that its three-member panel collectively observed repeated and deliberate attempts to pressure and malign the ECI during the Delhi elections, portraying it as a single-member body. Emphasizing constitutional restraint, the Commission stated that it would absorb such outbursts with wisdom and composure, refusing to be influenced by these insinuations.
Yatnal in Delhi: Senior BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal announced his plans to visit New Delhi on February 4 with other party loyalists to raise concerns with the BJP high command about Karnataka unit chief B Y Vijayendra and his father, B S Yediyurappa. Yatnal accused Vijayendra’s family of corruption and “adjustment politics” with the ruling Congress, urging the BJP to end nepotism.
AAP’s bid for third term vs BJP’s comeback attempt: The AAP is eyeing a third consecutive full term, banking on its governance record and welfare schemes. Meanwhile, the BJP is making a determined push to reclaim power in Delhi after 27 years, focusing on national leadership and local governance promises. The Congress, once the dominant force in Delhi’s politics before the AAP’s rise, is striving to regain its foothold and revive its influence among voters.
Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi coming out from Chief Election Commissioner office in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
In a indirect attack at the Aam Admi Party, Prime Minister in his Parliamentary address Tuesday called out the Delhi government for allegedly using state funds for building "Sheesh mahal".
Modi, who is replying to yesterday's discussion of motion in Lok Sabha says, "Govt schemes saved lot of money, but we did not use it to build 'Sheesh Mahal'.
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All across Delhi there are BJP posters calling AAP “aapda or disaster” – a coinage by Modi – and highlighting the “Sheesh Mahal”, the name given by the party to the revamped CM residence.
The stage is set for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Delhi, with over 1.56 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots from 7 am onwards on Wednesday.
Voting will take place across 13,766 polling stations in all the 70 Assembly constituencies to decide the fates of 699 candidates in a contest that could reshape the political landscape of the capital.
Led by Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is seeking a third straight term, banking on its governance record and welfare schemes.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a determined push to reclaim the capital after more than 25 years.
The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years till 2013, is striving to stage a comeback after failing to win a single seat in the previous two elections.
Polling will begin at 7 am on Wednesday and continue until 6 pm under tight security arrangements.
The Election Commission has deployed 220 companies of paramilitary forces, 35,626 Delhi Police personnel, and 19,000 home guards to ensure peaceful voting.
Nearly 3,000 polling booths have been identified as sensitive, and special security arrangements, including drone surveillance, have been made at some of these locations. PTI
The registrar general of the Delhi High Court last month sought clarification from the Supreme Court on whether a special court constituted under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, if designated as a special MP/MLA court, would be restricted to adjudicate only those cases involving MPs/MLAs under the NIA Act or whether it could also simultaneously exercise its jurisdiction over other offenders who are not members of Parliament or Legislative Assemblies but are accused under provisions of the 2008 Act.
The submission was made before Justice Vikas Mahajan of the Delhi High Court during a hearing on a plea by Independent MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid from Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on a BJP leader's plea in defamation case against her for allegedly saying the BJP attempted to poach AAP MLAs.
"Issue notice to the respondent," said Justice Vikas Mahajan. The matter would be heard in April.
The senior counsel for the complainant Praveen Shankar Kapoor argued a special court exceeded the scope of its jurisdiction while rejecting his defamation complaint and quashing the summons issued by a magisterial court to the AAP leader.
He objected to the special court "justifying" Atishi's conduct by calling her a whistleblower and sought a direction to stay the observations.
Justice Mahajan however did not pass any direction on the stay and sought Atishi's stand on Kapoor's plea.
Kapoor's counsel said the special court ought to have confined itself to the ingredients of the offence of defamation.
He said despite the allegations, Atishi did not come forward with any material to substantiate her claims before the police and could not be given the defence of truth. PTI
As Delhi votes Wednesday, the BJP is widely seen as having closed the gap with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after 10 years of overwhelming dominance of the Capital’s political landscape by the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit.
Not one to take any contest lightly, the BJP put in its all into the Delhi fight – whose import goes far beyond the Capital as the AAP remains virtually the only party making the BJP sweat in the North.
If this meant conceding the success of the AAP’s freebie narrative, the BJP did that. So, ignoring the fact that Kejriwal started the AAP campaign with “Revdi pe charcha”, cocking a snook at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of welfare schemes as “revdi”, the BJP went out of its way to reassure the Delhi electorate that it would not stop the AAP government’s schemes if it wins. Read more
A Delhi Court recently granted bail to a UK national allegedly involved in an attack on the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom in March 2023, noting that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) could not establish his link with the incident.
While granting bail to Inderpal Singh Gaba, the court asked him to surrender his passport and not leave the country without its permission.
“However, the NIA is unable to establish any link of the applicant (Gaba) with the incident of 19.03.2023. He was neither present at the spot nor was associated with arranging anything for the demonstration and for that matter, nothing could be shown that he was part of the conspiracy to organize the demonstration on 19.03.2023 or for that matter on 22.03.2023,” said Principal District and Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav of Patiala House Court.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Atishi in a petition filed by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor challenging the setting aside of a magistrate court’s summons to the Chief Minister in his defamation complaint.
On January 28, a special judge (PC Act)-CBI court of Rouse Avenue District Court set aside the magistrate court’s order of May 2024 issuing summons to Atishi in the defamation case filed by Kapoor, and also dismissed the complaint.
In his plea before the Delhi High Court, seeking that the special judge’s order be set aside, Kapoor said “in order to divert serious corruption issues and to project themselves as victims of political vendetta,” Aam Aadmi Party leaders started levelling baseless allegations against the BJP of offering bribes to AAP leaders to switch sides. Read here
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has launched an attack on the Election Commission of India, asserting that democracy now rests in the hands of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajeev Kumar. She emphasized that the nation is closely watching whether democracy will endure in the national capital.
The Election Commission posted on X that its three-member panel collectively observed repeated and deliberate attempts to pressure and malign the ECI during the Delhi elections, portraying it as a single-member body. Emphasizing constitutional restraint, the Commission stated that it would absorb such outbursts with wisdom and composure, refusing to be influenced by these insinuations.
The Election Commission stated on X that actions on concerns raised by political parties and candidates in the Delhi Assembly Election 2025 are addressed by over 1.5 lakh officials. These officials operate within a well-established legal framework, following robust processes and standard operating procedures to ensure fairness and non-partisan conduct.
The Delhi High Court issued a notice to its registrar general regarding the designation of a court to hear the bail plea of Jammu and Kashmir MP Rashid Engineer in a terror funding case.
Rashid claimed he was left without a legal remedy after the NIA court handling his case refused to hear his plea post his Lok Sabha election, as it was not a designated MP-MLA court.
The NIA opposed his interim bail request to attend Parliament, arguing he had no such right.
The court has sought clarification and listed the matter for hearing on February 6.
Delhi Police registered an FIR against Chief Minister Atishi, the AAP candidate from Kalkaji, for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct and obstructing public servants.
The action was taken after Atishi, along with 50-70 supporters and 10 vehicles, was found at Fateh Singh Marg despite police instructions to vacate the area.
In response, Atishi accused the Election Commission of bias, claiming no action was taken against BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri despite alleged misconduct. (PTI)
The Delhi High Court is set to hear a defamation plea filed by a BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor against AAP leader and Chief Minister Atishi on Tuesday.
Kapoor had moved court over Atishi’s claims that the BJP had tried to topple the AAP government by contacting 21 of its MLAs and offering each of them Rs 25 crore to switch sides.
With just a day remaining for the Delhi Assembly elections, Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi, along with former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak, will hold a press conference on Tuesday at 12 PM.
The Delhi Police said Monday they have seized double the amount of cash and alcohol in the first 25 days after the Model Code of Conduct was enforced during the Assembly elections compared to the last polls.
The police attributed the high seizure to strict enforcement and deployment of personnel and pickets in various parts of the city.
Special checks were also done at border areas to ensure no cross-border trading of drugs or liquor took place, they added.
Devesh Chandra Srivastava, Special CP (Crime) and State Police Nodal Officer for elections, said, “Last Assembly elections, Rs 4.5 crore were seized, this year the number stood at Rs 10.67 crore.
Similarly, the liquor seizure last election was 69,000 litres but this time we seized 1.3 lakh litre.
Even drug seizure was slightly high with 168 kilogram this time in comparison to 160 kg last election”. Read here
Senior BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal announced his plans to visit New Delhi on February 4 with other party loyalists to raise concerns with the BJP high command about Karnataka unit chief B Y Vijayendra and his father, B S Yediyurappa. Yatnal accused Vijayendra’s family of corruption and “adjustment politics” with the ruling Congress, urging the BJP to end nepotism.
With just a day to go before the Delhi Assembly polls, the high-octane campaigns ended on Monday, paving the way for the preparation of the parties and the Election Commission for the big day ahead. A total of 699 candidates are contesting across 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi, which will go to the polls on February 5. The results are set to be announced on February 8.
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Picture this: a video featuring dark figures looming over a castle, an impending war between good and evil, and John Williams’ “Hedwig’s Theme” music playing in the background. These are not elements of a promotional clip for another Harry Potter series spin-off but an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) campaign video urging the Delhi voters to “reject” the BJP or “Death Eaters”, as the video puts it, in the February 5 Assembly polls. Read More
This Election Season...
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 3, 2025
Vote For AAP To Save Delhi's Magic 🎩🪄 pic.twitter.com/mHw4Jjf0L7
Overflowing mobile toilets, rooms in poor condition, no drinking water, blocked bathrooms, no electricity—these are some of key shortcomings of accommodation provided to the central armed police forces (CAPFs) deployed in 13,033 booths spread across Delhi for Assembly elections. The CRPF has highlighted them to Delhi Police and requested that around 220 CAPF companies be provided basic necessities to enable them to perform their duties efficiently.
As campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections enters the last day, it is becoming increasingly clear that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s trenchant criticism of Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) counterpunches is likely to complicate the equations between the two parties at the INDIA bloc high table after the polls.
Behind Gandhi’s rare personal attacks on Kejriwal is the calculation that it will help Congress candidates bounce back in the national capital — where it was in power from 1998 to 2013 but has been relegated to being a minor player since then — at the cost of the AAP. The Delhi Congress and the high command seem to be finally on the same page on this. Read More
The Al-Hind hospital in Northeast Delhi’s Mustafabad is almost empty. The hospital that served as the first responders for the injured in the 2020 riots is run by Dr Anwar (44).
Almost five years after the violence, locals say that while they are unhappy with how the “AAP government acted during and after the riots”, they have no choice but to vote for the party. For them and several other voters from the minority community in the National Capital, it is a classic case of Hobson’s choice: the appearance of various options but only one real possible course of action. Read More
From strained Shaheen Bagh with a visible police presence and no parks, to which Muslim families from other parts of Delhi have relocated over the years in search of greater “security”, to the gated enclaves of Shalimar Bagh, from the sprawl of unauthorised colonies of Sangam Vihar in south Delhi to Burari on the outskirts almost cut off by traffic jams from the city, many voters The Indian Express spoke to dismissed the two controversies as only “political”. Read More
The expectations from AAP in general and Kejriwal in particular were so high that in 2015, a new political party won 67 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly. After NTR, Kejriwal was the only founding leader of a newly-founded political party who succeeded in forming a government in its initial attempts.
Alas, the unique characteristics of AAP — as a party and also its government — evaporated in a few years. The saga of AAP’s politics during the last 11 years has been one of contradictions and confrontations. There are at least seven sins the AAP leadership cannot wash its hands of. Read More
The Delhi High Court Monday once again issued notice to nine YouTube channels, including Bollywood Time, after restraining them from publishing misleading content on the health of Aaradhya Bachchan, the daughter of actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, in 2023.
Justice Mini Pushkarna issued notice on Monday, posting the matter next for consideration on March 17. The issuance of the notice comes after the nine YouTube channels failed to file their replies in response to Aaradhya’s petition. In her petition, Aaradhya had alleged the circulation of misleading information about her physical and mental well-being and morphed images by the media platforms.
Noting an improvement in the AQI, the Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan has been revoked Monday by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas. Stages I and II of the GRAP however remain invoked.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claims on X that his party will be able to secure 55 assembly seats in the February 5 elections, but they can even cross 60 if women in Delhi vote them and ask their families to vote AAP too. He writes, "According to my estimate, Aam Aadmi Party is going to get 55 seats but if women put in a lot of effort – everyone should go out to vote and convince the men in their house to vote for Aam Aadmi Party – then it can get more than 60 seats."
With the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) facing a stiff challenge from the principal Opposition BJP in the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, the Muslim vote has emerged as a key factor in the polls, even as the Congress is going all out to woo back the minority community.
The AAP has fielded Muslim candidates in five seats including Matia Mahal and Ballimaran in Central Delhi, Okhla in South East Delhi, and Seelampur and Mustafabad in North East Delhi. the Muslim community, which accounts for about 13% of Delhi’s 1.55 crore voters, played a key role in ensuring the AAP’s sweep in the 2015 and 2020 Assembly polls, when the party had bagged 67 and 62 seats out of 70, respectively. Read More
Amit Shah who was campaigning at a Jansabha in Sagarpur Monday, in Dwaraka criticised the regime under Congress and endorsed party candidate Pradyuman
"Previously, three blasts used to happen every month. Now, do you hear about blasts? We will end terrorism and bury naxalism in the ground."
"When Manmohan Singh left, we were 11th largest economy. Now we are 5th. By 2027, I promise we will be 3rd largest.
Do you get ₹5 lakh worth of free treatment? No, because Kejriwal doesn't let you have it. But you vote Pradyuman ji to power, and Narendra Modi will give Rs. 10 lakhs worth of free treatment for every Delhi wasi."
Talking about the recent implementation of UCC by Chief Minister Dhami in BJP ruled Uttrakhand Shah says, "Wahan koi chaar biwi nahi rakh sakta. We do what we say. Kejriwal never does what he says. He said he would take a dip in Yamuna, he didn't."
On the allegations made by Delhi CM Kejriwal over poison in Yamuna, Shah added, "We will make a Yamuna river fund and will clean Yamuna in three years."
"These chote miyan and bade miyan, Kejriwal and Sisodia drowned the youth in liquor. They did scams worth crores. There is only one education minister in the country, who is in jail for liquor scam."
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Monday was seen leading a campaign rally in Kasturba Nagar assembly constituency. In the Kotla Mubarakpur area, Gandhi was endorsing party candidate Abhishek Dutt in the roadshow.
LIVE: Roadshow | Kasturba Nagar, Delhi.https://t.co/7odG1959ml
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 3, 2025
The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant an urgent hearing on a plea against "freebies" and cash-oriented schemes being offered 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 PIL would be heard in the normal course whenever listed.
The counsel for the petitioner S N Dhingra sought the matter's urgent listing at around 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 said.
"It will be listed as per the standing order. We are not saying anything on merit," it added.
Dhingra objected to the announcement on "freebies" by political parties and said the entire election process was being conducted in violation of the law laid down by the Supreme Court.
The case was mentioned once again by a senior counsel for the petitioner in the post lunch session for listing on February 4. PTI
Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was seen campaigning Monday in support of AAP candidate Satyendra Jain from Shakur Basti assembly constituency. “This time, Delhiites have two options. You have to choose between studies and fighting. If you press the broom button, Delhi will develop. If you press the BJP button, there will be hooliganism and destruction here. So on the 5th, you people should only press the broom button," Mann said.
The Punjab CM was also seen campaigning in a roadshow for AAP MLA Bandana Kumari who is contesting from Shalimar Bagh.
Delhi Police detains Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Monday, who along with a group of women from Purvanchal, reached AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence with the water they collected from the Yamuna River.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Delhi Police detains Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, who along with a group of women from Purvanchal, reached AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence with the water they collected from the Yamuna River#delhielections2025 pic.twitter.com/yGAA4g8u7M
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2025
While addressing an election rally in Jangpura, Delhi, Home Minister Amit Shah launched a strong attack on Delhi’s former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. Amit Shah said that this is a partnership of “small miyan and big miyan.” He stated that Arvind Kejriwal has done no work in Delhi in the last 10 years. Liquor shops were not shut down, and the Yamuna River was not cleaned. Amit Shah claimed that if the BJP forms the government, they will create the Yamuna River Front in 3 years.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal criticized Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, alleging that the Election Commission is ineffective. He questioned "Are you going to get the post of Governor? rashtrapati? Aisa konsa post jo aap desh ko daav par lagane ke liye taiyar ho gaye."
He urged Kumar to let go of his attachment to power. "You have already served for 45 years—don’t trade the country’s democracy for a mere three or four more years in office. This nation has given you a lot. At the end of your career, don’t mortgage the country for the sake of a position. Don’t be the reason democracy crumbles."
In his press conference ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal remarked, "People are asking who is this gunda? Kon hai ye gunda jisse poore desh ke gunde aadesh lete hain or palan karte hain.
He asserted that it has now become evident that people have made up their minds to put an end to hooliganism. "Because they also know that everything is on one side and gundagardi on one the side. Because safety is important," he added.
"There is one party of honest people who think about saving Rs 25000 of the people in Delhi every month. While there is another filled with gunda and is total gundagardi which if it comes to power will destroy the middle class, poor, says Kejriwal.
On the final day of election campaigning, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra conducted a door-to-door outreach in Jangpura on Monday, rallying support for Congress candidate Farhad Suri.
"The people of Delhi are fed up with the misrule of AAP-BJP and now they are supporting only the politics of development," the Congress stated.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsकांग्रेस महासचिव श्रीमती @priyankagandhi जी ने जंगपुरा में कांग्रेस उम्मीदवार @Farhad_Suri जी के समर्थन में डोर-टू-डोर कैंपेन किया।
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 3, 2025
दिल्ली की जनता AAP-BJP के कुशासन से ऊब चुकी है और अब वह सिर्फ विकास की राजनीति को अपना समर्थन दे रही है।
जनता का भरोसा कांग्रेस के साथ है
इसलिए… pic.twitter.com/jS3K5ystPS
On the last day of campaigning, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal addressed a press conference on Monday, raising concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi.
He alleged that the city administration is unable to act due to "strict directions from above."
Accusing the BJP of "gundagardi" (hooliganism), Kejriwal claimed that party workers, women volunteers, and even media personnel were being targeted.
He highlighted an incident from the previous night where about seven reporters covering political developments were allegedly attacked by BJP-affiliated goons while the police stood by and did nothing.
Instead, he stated, the police detained the journalists and kept them in custody overnight.
"Such violent incidents are not happening in a remote village but just a kilometre away from the Supreme Court and Election Commission," he stated.
Ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu criticized the AAP-led government, calling it a "failed model" and urging people to vote for a party that ensures inclusive growth.
He highlighted concerns over "weather and political pollution" in Delhi and the lack of development, advocating for a "double engine sarkar" instead of AAP's "half-engine sarkar." Naidu added, "poor people in Delhi have to think if they want to live permanently in slums."
Naidu emphasized that performance and living standards matter more than ideology. He also expressed full support for Budget 2025, aligning it with TDP’s growth principles and the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
On the final day of campaigning, AAP spokesperson Anurag Dhanda criticized the BJP-led government, accusing it of failing to deliver on key promises, including pucca houses, the bullet train, ₹15 lakh deposits, and two crore jobs. “They had control over law and order and land issues, yet failed on both fronts. A double-engine government will only push the country in reverse," Dhanda stated. He further claimed that under AAP’s leadership, Delhiites save ₹25,000 annually—an advantage they do not want to lose.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Delhi elections: On the last day of campaigning, AAP leader Anurag Dhanda (@anuragdhanda) says, "Delhi has already decided to vote against the government which lied and promised pucca houses, bullet train, to give 15 lakh, two crore employment. They only had two things,… pic.twitter.com/MXSkCgaeyl
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 3, 2025
The high-voltage campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections concludes at 5 PM on Monday, ahead of voting on February 5. The BJP has lined up 22 roadshows and rallies in a final push to reclaim power, while the ruling AAP remains confident of securing a third consecutive term, relying on its governance and welfare schemes.
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