Mon Feb 03 21:58:00 UTC 2025: **Delhi Assembly Election: Campaigning Ends, Security Tightened for February 5th Vote**

NEW DELHI – The intense 27-day campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections concluded Monday evening, paving the way for a crucial vote on February 5th. The election, featuring 699 candidates vying for 70 seats, is seen as a referendum on the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) governance and the future of the BJP and Congress in the capital.

The campaigning period saw fierce clashes between the AAP, BJP, and Congress, with accusations of corruption, vote manipulation, and personal attacks dominating the discourse. Key issues included the alleged “liquor scam,” the condition of the Yamuna river, and the lavish spending of political leaders. All three parties offered similar freebie promises in their manifestos, including monthly stipends for women and free electricity. However, specific offerings varied, with AAP promising payments to temple priests and free bus rides, while BJP pledged financial aid for expecting mothers and Congress offered stipends to unemployed youth.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (AAP) is contesting from the New Delhi seat, facing BJP’s Parvesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit. Other key candidates include AAP’s Atishi (Kalkaji), Manish Sisodia (Jangpura), and Satyendar Jain (Shakur Basti).

Over 1.56 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots at 13,766 polling stations. The Election Commission has implemented measures to ensure accessibility and security, including the Queue Management System (QMS) app and the deployment of over 30,000 police personnel and 220 paramilitary companies. Special security measures are in place for nearly 3,000 sensitive polling booths, with drone surveillance and Quick Reaction Teams.

The mandatory silence period is now in effect until voting begins at 7 am on Wednesday. Counting of votes will take place on February 8th. The current 70-member Delhi Assembly’s term ends on February 23rd.

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