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High-stakes poll campaigning ends for Delhi assembly elections

Over the past week, the election campaign saw heightened rhetoric, with parties blaming each other
12:09 AM Feb 04, 2025 IST | SURINDER SINGH OBEROI
high stakes poll campaigning ends for delhi assembly elections
High-stakes poll campaigning ends for Delhi assembly elections
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New Delhi,  Feb 3: The campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections concluded Monday evening.

All three major political parties, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress held final rallies in their strongholds with their top political leaders that led these rallies.

Over the past week, the election campaign saw heightened rhetoric, with parties blaming each other.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a rally in South Delhi, today accused former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia of corruption in a liquor scandal and Arvind Kejriwal of misusing public money for building a post “SheeshMahal”, chief minister house. Meanwhile, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal criticised the Election Commission, alleging bias toward the BJP.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also actively campaigned for the BJP, urging voters to bring the BJP party to power in Delhi. Addressing a rally in RK Puram on Sunday, he promoted his government’s economic policies and called the recent Union Budget “the most middle-class-friendly budget in India’s history.”

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Other state leaders have also joined the campaign. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged voters to choose “education over violence” and support AAP. Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma held rallies for the BJP, while TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha campaigned for AAP’s Atishi in Kalkaji.

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The AAP won the last two elections with massive victories, securing 67 seats in 2015 and 62 in 2020. Its governance model, focusing on education, healthcare, free electricity, and water, has been popular among voters. Free bus rides for women have also bolstered its support base.

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Delhi has 1.56 crore registered voters, including 83.76 lakh men, 72.36 lakh women, and 1,267 third-gender voters.

Authorities have set up 13,766 polling stations, including 733 specially designated for persons with disabilities. Over 200 paramilitary companies, 19,000 home guards, and 35,626 Delhi Police personnel will ensure security.

While AAP has delivered on many of its promises, it faces strong anti-incumbency due to issues like poor roads, water quality, and corruption allegations against its leaders.

The BJP has focused on these weaknesses while expanding its influence in unauthorised colonies and slum clusters, which were previously AAP strongholds.

However, the BJP has not projected a chief ministerial candidate, and internal factionalism within its Delhi unit remains a challenge. Despite orders from the party’s high command to stay united, rival groups within the BJP continue to organise separate meetings.

Congress, after a poor performance in the last two elections, is fighting to stay relevant. It is focusing on nearly two dozen seats, particularly in minority and Dalit-dominated areas, where it hopes to regain lost support. However, while the party may improve its vote share, winning seats remains a tough challenge.

As Delhi heads to the polls, all three parties have promised various benefits, including free electricity, water subsidies, and cash allowances for women and senior citizens. Exit polls will be released after voting ends on February 5 at 6:30 PM.

Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, has been in power in Delhi for the last more than ten years . This current election presents a tough challenge as the BJP has deployed its top leaders to contest the polls. The party aims to break AAP’s stronghold, while Congress is trying to regain lost ground after failing to win any seats in the last two elections.

Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly will take place on Wednesday, February 5, in a single phase. Vote counting is scheduled for February 8. With a high-stakes battle ahead, the outcome on February 8 will determine whether AAP or BJP take the reins of Delhi.