Delhi elections: EC likely to announce schedule tomorrow, polls expected in second week of Feb, say sources
Delhi elections: EC likely to announce schedule tomorrow, polls expected in second week of Feb, say sources
Delhi Assembly elections 2025: There is a direct fight between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. The third big party is Congress which is also aiming for revival of their lost electoral ground in the national capital.
Image Source : X Building of Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India may announce the date of the Delhi Assembly elections tomorrow, said the sources, adding the polls may take place in the second week of February. The elections for the 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi are due to be held in February this year. There is a triangular assembly poll battle between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. However, the main fight is between Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP and JP Nadda's BJP.
The BJP, out of power in Delhi since 1998, has pulled all the stops to win the polls and replace AAP which has been dominating since 2013. In the last two Assembly elections in 2015 and 2020, the AAP routed the BJP restricting it to three and eight seats, respectively. On the other hand, Congress drew nil in the last two elections as AAP's emergence hurt the grand old party most as its core voters shifted to the ruling party.
Delhi is reeling under severe cold but the political temperature is on the rise in the national capital as all main parties have started intense campaigns to woo voters even before the official announcement of the date of elections.
BJP, AAP trade barbs over 'Sheesh Mahal' weeks ahead of Delhi polls
The BJP on Monday sharpened its attack on AAP with its charge of a "big scam" in the reconstruction of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's official bungalow, while the ruling party hit back by pointing to the funds spent on the prime minister's residence and aircraft.
The BJP fired a fresh salvo at Kejriwal, alleging that while a CAG report has highlighted an expenditure of Rs 33.86 crore on his 'Sheesh Mahal', the actual cost runs up to Rs 75-80 crore if the inventory of the items in the 6, Flagstaff Road Bungalow in Civil Lines are included.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report pertains to the expenditure till 2022 and that there is no revelation on expenses during 2023 and 2024.
AAP hits back at BJP
Responding to BJP's accusation following the CAG findings, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, "Is there any report on prime minister's Rs 2,700-crore residence and Rs 8,500-crore plane and Rs 10-lakh suit?"
Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also defended the AAP chief, saying that the bungalow does not personally belong to him and whoever, either from the BJP or any party, becomes the next chief minister will reside in that house.
"If the BJP is raising questions about the CM's residence, then they should present the expenditure details of the PM’s office before the public. Both the residences should be opened to the public and media for inspection so that people can decide. Repeating the same allegations again and again doesn’t make sense," Bharadwaj alleged.
