NEW DELHI: Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: On Tuesday, January 7, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced the schedule for the Delhi Assembly elections, confirming that the elections will take place on February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8.

The Election Commission of India has strongly denied accusations of electoral manipulation raised by political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections. The Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, emphasized the transparency of the election process and the active involvement of political parties at every stage.

Single-Phase Polling and Nomination Deadlines: Simplifying the Election Process

The upcoming election is set to occur in a single phase, offering a streamlined and efficient voting experience for the electorate. This approach minimizes logistical challenges and ensures that voters across constituencies can participate seamlessly on the same day.

Aspiring candidates must submit their nominations by January 17, marking the official deadline to enter the race. For those reconsidering their participation, the last date to withdraw nominations is January 20. These clearly defined timelines aim to foster transparency and maintain order in the pre-election process.

With the formal announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into effect in the national capital. This framework establishes ethical guidelines for candidates, political parties, and government officials, ensuring a level playing field for all. The MCC prohibits any actions that could unfairly influence the voters or disrupt the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of fairness and integrity during the campaign period.

In a statement on Tuesday, Rajiv Kumar assured that electoral manipulation is impossible due to the thorough procedures involved in preparing voter lists. He highlighted that these steps are carried out in close coordination with political parties, ensuring transparency throughout.

Following the Maharashtra elections, there have been concerns regarding incorrect additions and removals in the voter lists, especially in specific regions. We are taking these issues seriously and have established systems to resolve them," stated Kumar.

The Chief Election Commissioner further clarified that there are 70 steps involved in the process of finalizing voter lists for elections. He noted that political parties are continuously engaged throughout this process, with regular meetings held at various levels. "Political parties have the right to appoint Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and all objections raised are shared with the parties to ensure transparency," he added.

Delhi Assembly Election 2020: A Look Back 

In the context of Delhi’s upcoming elections, the accusations of voter fraud come amid a history of controversy surrounding voter lists in the capital. In 2020, AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, returned to power in the Delhi Assembly elections with an overwhelming victory, winning 62 out of 70 seats. The party secured 53.57% of the total valid votes.

The BJP, in contrast, managed to win only eight seats, capturing 38.51% of the total valid votes. The party contested 67 constituencies, leaving three seats for its allies, including Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). Congress, on the other hand, failed to win any seats, securing only 4.26% of the valid votes.

In the 2020 elections, the BJP’s eight winning candidates included Vijender Gupta from Rohini, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri from Badarpur, Abhay Verma from Laxmi Nagar, Om Prakash Sharma from Vishwas Nagar, Anil Kumar Bajpai from Gandhi Nagar, Jitender Mahajan from Rohtas Nagar, Ajay Mahawar from Ghonda, and Mohan Singh Bisht from Karawal Nagar.

Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal had raised concerns about large-scale voter fraud in the New Delhi Assembly seat, particularly regarding the addition and deletion of voters. However, the Election Commission has reiterated that the election process is transparent and that all parties have ample opportunities to raise concerns and verify voter lists.