Delhi Election 2025 Live Updates: 'Delhi people are asking who will be BJP's CM face,' says Atishi

The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday accused the BJP of buying votes ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, claiming that BJP leaders in Delhi embezzled funds intended for this purpose.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP allocated Rs 10,000 per voter to its leaders for vote-buying but distributed only Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100 to voters, with leaders pocketing the remaining Rs 9,000.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday pledged to provide funds to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) for hiring private security guards to enhance neighborhood safety if his party returns to power in Delhi.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal stated that guidelines on funding and the number of guards would be decided later. He criticized the BJP, accusing the Centre of failing to curb Delhi's rising crime.

Calling Delhi's two crore residents his "family," Kejriwal emphasized that their safety is AAP's top priority. "If the people of Delhi are hurt, I am hurt. After forming the government, RWAs will be funded to appoint security guards," he affirmed.

The AAP and BJP continued their tussle on Friday to win the support of Poorvanchalis ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal asserted that his government had worked "tirelessly" to improve conditions in unauthorized colonies, home to many migrants from eastern UP and Bihar. Kejriwal claimed that AAP was the only party that had provided a life of dignity to Poorvanchalis in Delhi.

Can Arvind Kejriwal sweep Delhi elections once again to score a hat-trick of victories or will a determined BJP succeed in stopping the AAP juggernaut this time around with the Congress playing a "spoiler" for the ruling party? The AAP and the Congress had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Delhi together but have since then gone their separate ways making the February 5 assembly elections a three-way contest.

The friends-turned-rivals have openly engaged in ugly spats, much to the delight of the BJP. While the Delhi Congress leaders have unleashed all-out attack against Kejriwal, the AAP chief has accused the grand-old-party of "secret coordination" with the BJP.

BJP CEC meeting underway at the party headquarters in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union HM Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, party chief-Union minister JP Nadda and others attend the meeting.

AAP on Friday alleged that the BJP is buying votes ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, claiming that the saffron party's Delhi leaders have embezzled funds meant for "buying votes with money". Addressing a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP has allocated Rs 10,000 per voter to its leaders for buying votes but only a fraction of the money reached the intended recipients.

"Instead of distributing the full amount, BJP leaders allegedly handed out only Rs 1,000 or Rs 1,100 to voters, pocketing the remaining Rs 9,000 for themselves," Singh said.

There was no immediate response from the BJP.

AAP convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media platform X to accuse the BJP of resorting to "buying votes" and banking on "money" to win the election.

"The abusive party is losing the Delhi elections badly. That is why it now wants to contest the elections by buying votes with money," Kejriwal said on X.

Union home minister Amit Shah arrives at BJP headquarters for the party's CEC meeting.

Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Atishi took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over no CM face for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

While lashing out, she added that BJP has decided to make Ramesh Bidhuri its CM face for the national capital, "who hurls the most abuses."

Atishi's remarks come on the heels of a BJP core committee meeting, with the party expected to finalise its strategy later today. Addressing the media, Atishi said, "Today, the entire Delhi is asking from the 'Galli-Galoch' party who is its CM face. The people of Delhi know that by voting for AAP, Arvind Kejriwal will become the CM. But they are asking who will be BJP's CM face."

CPI General Secretary D Raja says, "It is a fact that Opposition is divided. It is known to people that in Delhi elections, AAP is contesting on its own, Congress is contesting on its own, Left parties are contesting wherever they are capable of putting up a fight and among other parties, certain parties have declared support to AAP. So, it is a fact that INDIA bloc stands divided. As far as Left parties are concerned, since the first meeting which was held in Patna, we have been pursuing the political line that our primary objective must be to defeat BJP. Our whole effort should be to unite the secular, democratic parties at all levels. But it doesn't happen. But the Left will pursue how to unite the secular, democratic parties, how to put up a strong, collective fight to ensure the defeat of BJP wherever it is necessary..."

Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary said, "Arvind Kejriwal's attitude towards the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh has not been good since starting. The people of Delhi always make strong comments about the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh which is wrong. In the whole of India, we can go anywhere, live anywhere and work anywhere. If you look at the record of the last five years, then in India, most of the engineers are from Bihar, many IAS are from Bihar, and doctors are from Bihar. Arvind Kejriwal is suffering from the frustration of the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh."

BJP candidate from Karol Bagh assembly constituency, Dushyant Gautam says, "The people of Delhi are more eager than the BJP for elections so they can bring the BJP to power because they want a change... Arvind Kejriwal has never respected constitutional institutions... He has made Delhi a living hell..."

Delhi CM & AAP leader Atishi said, " Today, the entire Delhi is asking from the 'Galli-Galoch' party who is its CM face. The people of Delhi know that by voting for AAP, Arvind Kejriwal will become the CM. But they are asking who will be BJP's CM face. BJP's Core Committee meeting is underway and this evening they will hold their parliamentary board meeting. Through credible sources, we have found that 'Galli-Galoch' party has decided that its CM face will be the one leader who hurls the most abuses, which is Ramesh Bidhuri."

AAP candidate from Rajinder Nagar assembly seat Durgesh Pathak on Friday, alleged BJP is engaging in unethical behaviour, fearing defeat in elections.
Pathak accused the BJP of creating fake votes, stating that this information has been shared with the Election Commission.

"BJP is losing the elections badly. Fearing that, they are behaving unethically. Each BJP worker is filing a petition to get 2-3 thousand votes deleted... Rs 1100 each are being distributed to people in their homes... Fake votes are being made. We have given all this information to the Election Commission yesterday..," he said.

Earlier today, AAP MP Sanjay Singh launched a scathing attack against the BJP during a press conference.

AAP MP alleged massive corruption by a political party, referring to it as the "'Galli Galoch Party." He claimed that the BJP party's leaders distributed Rs 1,100 openly to buy votes.

Singh further stated, "We have received information from sources that leaders of the 'Galli-Galoch' party were given Rs 10,000 each by their party to be distributed. Their leaders thought that when there was no chance of winning elections, they should save Rs 9000 and distribute only Rs 1100."

He challenged the party to reveal the truth, asking, "Did you give Rs 1,100 to your leaders to distribute among voters or not? Let the public know the reality...I ask the 'Galli-Galoch' party to tell the truth before people... People of Delhi need to expose the corruption of the 'Galli-Galoch party now..."

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has accused the BJP of facilitating a large-scale vote fraud in the New Delhi Assembly constituency, claiming in a press conference that the local election officer has "surrendered to the BJP" and is aiding in fraudulent activities.

Speaking about the alleged vote fraud, Kejriwal said, "The local election officer of the New Delhi Assembly constituency has surrendered to the BJP. He is facilitating all the wrong works of the BJP... The ECI has assured us that they will not allow all these practices to happen and strict action will be taken... The local DEO and ERO should be suspended."

Kejriwal also highlighted an alarming number of fake applications for the cancellation of votes. "In New Delhi Assembly constituency, from 15 December to 7 January, in 22 days, 5,500 applications have come for cancellation of votes... These applications are fake... A big scam is going on... In the last fifteen days, 13,000 applications have come," he said, stressing that the people listed in these applications denied submitting them.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has arrived at the residence of BJP National President JP Nadda for a crucial core committee meeting, as the party gears up for the upcoming Delhi Election in 2025.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda (JP Nadda) held a meeting with the Delhi Assembly Election Management Committee at the state BJP office and reviewed the party's organisational arrangements given the upcoming Assembly election and guided the party members.

Delhi State BJP President Virendraa Sachdev, Election In-charge Baijayant Jay Panda, Co-Election In-charge Atul Garg (MP), Co-In-charge Alka Gurjar, State Organisation General Secretary Pawan Rana, MP Harsh Malhotra and MP Manoj Tiwari were also present in this meeting, according to a statement from the party.

Nadda first held a meeting with the Delhi Election Conducting Committee (Chunav Sanchalan Samiti) of BJP and then held a meeting of different departments of election management and took stock of the election preparations of the party.

Giving important instructions to the officials in view of the elections, Nadda called upon them to ensure the historic victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi in the Delhi Assembly Elections, the release stated.

Nadda asked the members of the State BJP Election Conducting Committee and Election Management Committee to further improve the arrangements of the party.

The party president said that this Delhi Assembly election is an opportunity to choose between "Arvind Kejriwal's lies and corruption" and "BJP's truth and development."

He said that the people of Delhi have made up their minds to get rid of Arvind "Kejriwal's AAP-da." "I have full faith that the great people of Delhi will choose truth and development in this election and will free Delhi from AAP-da," Nadda said, as per the statement.

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

BJP workers held 'Purvanchal Samman March' from Ashoka Road to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence here on Friday to protest against the latter's alleged remarks against the people of Purvanchal.

Delhi Police used water cannon to disperse the protesters when they tried to cross the barricades put up near the Kejriwal's residence at Feroze Shah Road. The Police also detained the BJP workers.

The BJP accused Kejriwal of disrespecting the people from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand.

"Arvind Kejriwal and AAP have a history of disrespecting the people from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand...How did you (Arvind Kejriwal) dare to call people from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand as fake...The promises of Arvind Kejriwal and AAP are fake...The people of Purvanchal will take revenge on 5th February," BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said at a press conference here on Friday.

The BJP MP alleged that Kejriwal recently referred to people from UP and Bihar as 'farzi' and accused them of "getting fake voter ID cards made" in Delhi.

Retorting this statement, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj told ANI, "I want to ask the Purvanchali leaders of Delhi, where was Manoj Tiwari when JP Nadda called Purvanchalis as infiltrators. Where was the Purvanchal Morcha?"

"Where was Manoj Tiwari when a 'chhath ghat' was destroyed in my constituency? We organised a press conference today to tell that the votes of people of Purvanchal are being cut in Delhi, because they vote for AAP," he added.

The dispute arose after an AAP delegation led by Arvind Kejriwal met the Election Commission to raise concerns about alleged voter irregularities in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The party highlighted a significant surge in voter registrations and deletions on the seat while alleging a "voter fraud" taking place at a large scale.

Former Delhi CM Kejriwal said that a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. He also claimed that out of 89 people who had applied for deletion of 5500 names from the voter list, 18 denied submitting the request.

"The Chief Election Commissioner is out, but we met with the other two commissioners. One of the issues we raised was that in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly, between December 15 and January 7, a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. The total votes in this assembly are 1,00,000. This means that 5.5 per cent of the votes were registered in the last 22 days, which clearly indicates some irregularities. There are issues with these applications," Kejriwal told reporters after meeting the Election Commissioners, here on Thursday.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal criticised the BJP for neglecting unauthorised colonies in Delhi over the last decade. Speaking at a press conference, Kejriwal said, "I want to ask the BJP, what have you done for unauthorised colonies of Delhi in the last 10 years? Have they built even a single road, a single lane for the 'Purvanchal' society? They had so much power, money. They should have done it."

Highlighting his government’s efforts, Kejriwal said, "I provided sewer connection, electricity connection, water pipeline, CCTV cameras were installed in these colonies. Schools, 'mohalla' clinics, hospitals were opened. I gave them a dignified life. What has BJP done apart from dirty politics?"

Union minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh criticised Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over his recent remarks made outside the Election Commission office. "What Arvind Kejriwal said to the press in front of the Election Commission office yesterday has exposed him. He is making such statements out of desperation because he knows that this time he is losing," Singh said.

He further accused Kejriwal of making contradictory and offensive comments. "On one hand, when JP Nadda raises the issue of Rohingya, he (Arvind Kejriwal) connects Purvanchal with it and on the other hand, he makes insulting statements for the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh," Singh added.

Ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the 'Galli-Galoch' party of distributing money to buy votes. "Recently, leaders of 'Galli-Galoch' party distributed Rs 1100 to buy votes. This was done openly. We have come to know from our sources that leaders of the 'Galli-Galoch' party were given Rs 10,000 each by their party to be distributed. Their leaders thought that when there was no chance of winning elections, they should save Rs 9000 and distribute only Rs 1100," Singh said.

He further challenged the party, stating, "I ask the 'Galli-Galoch' party to tell the truth before people...People of Delhi need to expose the corruption of 'Galli-Galoch party now."

BJP Member of Parliament (MP) and former Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari has sharply criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over referring to people from Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar as 'farzi' (fake).

The BJP MP alleged that Kejriwal recently referred to people from UP and Bihar as 'farzi' and accused them of "getting fake voter ID cards made" in Delhi.

Tiwari, in a statement, claimed that Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) harbour a deep hatred for the residents of these states.

"There are multiple examples showing how AAP and Arvind Kejriwal hate people of UP and Bihar. Today, once again Arvind Kejriwal called the people of UP and Bihar 'farzi'. He said that people of UP and Bihar are coming to Delhi and getting fake voter ID cards made," Tiwari said.

Tiwari drew attention to past controversies, especially the handling of migrant workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

He accused Kejriwal of misleading migrant workers during the pandemic, specifically mentioning how they were abandoned to die at Anand Vihar when they were desperate to return to their home states. "This is the same Arvind Kejriwal and AAP that lied to people of UP, Bihar and Jharkhand and sent them to Anand Vihar to die during Corona," Tiwari added.

Tiwari continued, "When people had to be kept safe in the house, he said that people of UP and Bihar come here on a Rs 500 ticket and leave after Rs 5 Lakh medical treatment."

The BJP leader also accused AAP of deleting names of around 7.5 lakh people, including residents of UP and Bihar, from the voter list during the 2022 elections.

"People of UP and Bihar have made a name for themselves with their hard work, and it is necessary for those who live here to have a voter card," Tiwari said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Vishnu Mittal on Thursday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital for its failure to improve conditions in the city's slums and claimed that the slum dwellers have decided to support the BJP, citing poor living conditions and a lack of basic amenities under the AAP.

Vishnu Mittal, the BJP's convener for the 'Jhuggi Abhiyan' (Slum Campaign), announced that on January 11th, the 'pradhans' (leaders) of Delhi's slums will gather at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address them.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Mittal highlighted a series of issues faced by residents of slums, accusing the AAP-led Delhi government of neglecting their needs.

"On 11th January, we called the 'pradhans' of the slums of Delhi at the JLN stadium. Union home minister Amit Shah will be present at the event and will personally interact with them," Mittal said. He added that the BJP expects at least 3,000 slum leaders to attend the event.

Amid the ongoing battle between AAP & BJP for the upcoming Delhi Assembly election, the party announced that a big revelation would be made in a press conference against the Gali galoch party'.

In a post on X, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said "Today at 11 o'clock Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bhardwaj will make a big disclosure against the 'Galli galoch party' in a press conference. Do watch it."

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party delegation led by party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met the Election Commission over their 'concerns' regarding alleged irregularities in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The party highlighted a significant surge in voter registrations and deletions on the seat while alleging a "voter fraud" taking place at a large scale.

Former Delhi CM Kejriwal said that a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. He also claimed that out of 89 people who had applied for deletion of 5500 names from the voter list, 18 denied submitting the request.

On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi targeted the BJP, alleging that it doesn't have any agenda other than hurl abuses at AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal. She said that the BJP doesn't have a chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Delhi Assembly election.

"This 'galli-galoch' party doesn't have any agenda, narrative or CM face for Delhi. They have only one work: to hurl abuses at Arvind Kejriwal. I think it will be very easy for the people of Delhi to make a decision," Atishi told reporters after inaugurating the AAP election office in the Govindpuri on Thursday.

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. While last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats. (

Hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Parvesh Verma said that the former Chief Minister never visited any village and didn't allow any villager of Delhi to enter his 'Sheesh Mahal'.
Attacking the AAP government further, Verma claimed that Kejriwal raked the issue of the Jat reservation because he realised that rural Delhi was voting against him.

"This is the same Arvind Kejriwal who used to say that people in villages of Delhi stink. This is the same Arvind Kejriwal who never allowed people from even one village of Delhi to enter his 'Sheesh Mahal.' This is the same Arvind Kejriwal who never visited any village to date over any issue," Parvesh Verma said.

Verma, who has been fielded against AAP supremo Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency, further exuded confidence in winning the assembly polls

"Today, he felt that the entire rural Delhi was voting against AAP--rural Delhi included not just Jats but also Gujjars, Yadavs, Tyagis and Rajputs, all of them saying in unison that they have to uproot the Arvind Kejriwal government," the BJP leader said.

He added, "We will form our government in Delhi this time. Today, he remembered the Jats. Had they done anything for the Jats, they need not have remembered Jats just 25 days before elections."

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

Earlier in the day, Arvind Kejriwal said that the Delhi assembly elections will be a "direct contest" between the AAP and the BJP and not an election of the INDIA alliance.

"The Delhi assembly election is between AAP and the BJP. It is not the election of the INDIA alliance. I wholeheartedly express my gratitude to all those parties for supporting us. Mamata Banerjee is supporting us. Akhilesh Yadav is supporting us. I have learnt through media that the (Uddhav) Thackeray ji's party is supporting us," Kejriwal told reporters here on Thursday.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats.

As Delhi is gearing up for the assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Parvesh Verma on Thursday took a dig at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and said that he was "nervous" because he knows that BJP will form the government in the national capital.

"All the other parties of the INDI alliance are non-existent in Delhi. They have no vote bank. Arvind Kejriwal can see he is losing and that is why he is taking support from these parties. BJP is certainly forming government in Delhi and Kejriwal is nervous about that," Verma, who is the BJP candidate from the New Delhi assembly constituency, told ANI.

Verma's reaction comes after Kejriwal on Wednesday announced that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has extended support to his party in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections on February 5.

Verma further said that the INDIA bloc doesn't exist since there has been an exchange of allegations among the alliance partners after the Maharashtra assembly election results were declared.

"INDIA alliance does not exist anymore. We saw in Maharashtra that when they lost, they levelled allegations against each other. The people remaining in the (INDIA) alliance are corrupt. They are people whom Arvind Kejriwal used to (verbally) abuse earlier. Delhi understands that he (Kejriwal) is trying to ally with those he was against," Verma said.

It must be noted that Verma is contesting from New Delhi assembly constituency against Kejriwal and Congress' Sandeep Dikshit.

Earlier, in a post on X, Kejriwal thanked West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee earlier for extending her support to AAP.

"TMC has announced support to AAP in Delhi elections. I am personally grateful to Mamta Didi. Thank you, Didi. U have always supported and blessed us in our good and bad times," the AAP Chief said.

Reacting to Kejriwal's post, senior TMC leader Derek O' Brien said, "We have your back Aam Aadmi Party."

On Tuesday, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that the people of Delhi will defeat the BJP in the Assembly polls.

"We hope that the AAP government comes back there and BJP is defeated. The people of Delhi will defeat BJP," Ghosh said.

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. While last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats.

A verbal skirmish erupted between the AAP and the BJP on Thursday after Arvind Kejriwal accused the saffron party of manipulating the electoral rolls by registering "fake" voters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in his constituency, New Delhi, ahead of Assembly polls. Hitting back, BJP chief J P Nadda accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Kejriwal of insulting the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, claiming that the former Delhi chief minister referred to them as fake voters.
In a formal complaint to the Election Commission, Kejriwal raised concerns over the addition of 13,000 new voters in just 15 days, between December 15 and January 8.

He alleged that several of the new voters were brought in from neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, accusing the BJP of orchestrating a scheme to alter the election results.

Addressing the media after lodging the complaint, Kejriwal said, "How could 13,000 new voters appear suddenly in such a short span of time? Many of these voters have been brought in from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other neighbouring states to create fake voter registrations. This manipulation undermines the election process."

Kejriwal's remarks sparked an immediate backlash from the BJP, with leaders from the party condemning his comments.

In a post on X, Nadda shared two video clips of Kejriwal's remarks, one old and another made on Thursday after an AAP delegation visited the Election Commission, to target him.

"In fear of his defeat after looting Delhi for the past 10 years with his massive corruption and turning into a disaster for the city, Arvind Kejriwal in desperation has resorted to baseless comments against brothers and sisters of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," the BJP leader alleged.

"People of Delhi will surely reply to him by throwing him out of power," he added.

Nadda posted a video clip of the comment.

He also posted an old video of Kejriwal, then chief minister, that showed him purportedly saying that someone from Bihar buys a Rs 500 train ticket to come to the national capital and receives treatment worth Rs 5 lakh for free in a government hospital

In a press conference, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva dismissed Kejriwal's accusations, stressing that people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are vital to Delhi's economy and contribute significantly to the city's growth.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, also present at the press conference, called Kejriwal's statement a direct insult to the people of Purvanchal, a region encompassing eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Tiwari said, "Kejriwal's remarks are a clear example of disrespect towards the hard-working people of UP and Bihar. He called them 'fake' voters. It is shameful to label such an important section of Delhi's electorate in this manner."

Kejriwal labelled people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as fake even though they constitute 42 per cent of voters in Delhi, and the answer to his statement will come on February 5, Tiwari claimed.

The war of words over alleged voter manipulation has intensified the already heated political atmosphere in the capital.

With the Delhi elections scheduled for February 5 and results on February 8, the controversy over voter lists is expected to remain a key issue in the weeks ahead.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit has criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, accusing it of abandoning people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Dikshit claimed that during the outbreak, lakhs were left stranded at Delhi borders without food or water and forced to walk back to their home states.

"There were long queues of people at the Delhi border during the COVID-19 breakout. Lakhs were walking on the Agra highway with children, without food or water, after being thrown out of Delhi," Dikshit, Congress’s New Delhi candidate, told ANI.

Dikshit also addressed the issue of Jaats being excluded from Delhi’s OBC reservation list. He criticised AAP for not taking concrete steps over the past decade to include the community. "What were they doing for 10 years? When the Jaat agitation happened in Haryana, they should have assured reservations in Delhi. Instead of writing letters to PM Modi, they should follow proper procedures and send recommendations to the OBC or SC/ST commissions," he added.

Reacting to Trinamool Congress’s support for AAP in the upcoming Delhi elections, Dikshit dismissed AAP’s influence beyond Delhi and Punjab. "Alliance partners support AAP because it’s a non-threat outside these regions. Congress, however, can challenge them if it regains power in Delhi," he said.

Dikshit’s remarks come amid mounting criticism of AAP from other political leaders. JDU working president Sanjay Kumar Jha accused Arvind Kejriwal of disrespecting people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, demanding an apology for recent comments about "fake voters." Similarly, former Delhi OBC Commission chairman Chattar Singh accused AAP and BJP of being "anti-reservation."

The Delhi Assembly polls are scheduled for February 5, with counting on February 8.

As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) garners support from several INDIA bloc allies ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP MP Sanjay Singh has asserted that his party is the only one capable of defeating the BJP in the national capital.

"Everyone’s aim is to defeat BJP. AAP is the only party in Delhi that can achieve this. That’s why other parties are supporting us, and we are grateful for their backing," Singh told ANI.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Samajwadi Party have extended their support to AAP for the upcoming elections. Although AAP and Congress are part of the INDIA bloc, they are competing against each other in this election.

Earlier, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal expressed gratitude to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee for her support via a post on X (formerly Twitter). "TMC has announced support to AAP in Delhi elections. I am personally grateful to Mamata Didi. Thank you, Didi. You have always supported and blessed us in our good and bad times," Kejriwal wrote.

Responding to Kejriwal’s post, senior TMC leader Derek O’Brien reaffirmed his party’s support, saying, "We have your back, Aam Aadmi Party."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also weighed in, stating that AAP holds greater strength in Delhi than Congress. "AAP is a major force in Delhi. The atmosphere suggests that Kejriwal’s party will win the elections with a significant margin. While Congress is a key player nationally, in Delhi, it is AAP that has the most strength," Raut said in Mumbai.

Raut also criticised remarks from some Congress leaders targeting Kejriwal. "Calling him a traitor is unacceptable. Leaders like Kejriwal deserve respect," he added.

The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February 5, with vote counting set for February 8. The deadline for filing nominations is January 17, with scrutiny on January 18, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature on January 20.

Congress, which governed Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has struggled in recent elections, failing to win a single seat in the last two Assembly polls. In contrast, AAP emerged dominant in 2020, securing 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP managed only eight.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Thursday criticised the BJP-led government over the "flawed GST system" and accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of failing to meet public expectations. She stated that the Congress would contest the Delhi assembly elections independently, as political circumstances demand it.

Shrinate slammed the Modi government for what she described as a "tax attack" on citizens and urged the government to offer relief in the upcoming Union Budget.

"Our primary demand is to rid the country of this tax attack. Relief must be provided in the next budget. GST has been imposed on essentials like wheat, medicines, curd, popcorn, and even old cars. The government must remove GST on critical items like medical insurance. Congress’ 2024 Nyay Patra outlined GST 2.0—a simplified system with just one or two slabs. Today, the GST system is in disarray, burdening small businesses and ordinary citizens. We were the original architects of GST, envisioned as a 'Good and Simple Tax,' but the current system is far from it," Shrinate said in an interview with ANI.

Responding to Congress’ decision to fight the Delhi polls separately, despite the INDIA bloc partners supporting AAP, Shrinate said the decision was based on ground realities.

She alleged that the AAP government had failed to meet expectations and needed to be held accountable. "This is why we’re contesting alone. Delhi has historically been a Congress stronghold, with our party running successful governments here. Current political equations necessitate our independent approach," she added.

Earlier, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had described the Delhi assembly elections as a direct contest between AAP and the BJP, not a matter for the INDIA alliance.

"The Delhi election is between AAP and BJP. It is not the INDIA alliance’s election. I am grateful to Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and Uddhav Thackeray’s party for supporting us," Kejriwal said during a press interaction.

Both Congress and AAP are part of the INDIA bloc, which comprises parties united in their opposition to the BJP.

Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat announced on Thursday that the Left parties have decided to field candidates for six seats in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, while supporting the "strongest candidates" opposing the BJP in other constituencies. Out of the six seats, the CPI(M) will contest two, with a primary focus on preventing the BJP from gaining power in the national capital.

"All parties have finalised their candidates for the Delhi elections. The Left has decided to contest six seats, with the CPI(M) fielding candidates for two of them. In other constituencies, we will support the strongest candidates standing against the BJP," Karat said.

Karat made these remarks while attending the eighth Jharkhand State General Conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Ranchi.

The Delhi assembly elections, covering all 70 constituencies, are scheduled for February 5, with vote counting to take place on February 8.

Speaking about the elections, Karat added, "The choice lies with the people of Delhi. I am confident they will prioritise defeating the BJP, which has worked tirelessly over the past five years to undermine the rights of the people."

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday raised concerns about the INDIA bloc, questioning the lack of clarity on its leadership and agenda. He stated that if the alliance was solely formed for the parliamentary elections, it should be dissolved. However, if it is meant to also include Assembly elections, he suggested that the parties involved should meet and strategise collectively.

Abdullah made the remarks in response to a statement by an RJD leader, who suggested that the INDIA bloc's purpose was limited to the Lok Sabha elections. He pointed out that no clear timeline or leadership had been defined for the alliance and expressed frustration over the absence of a meeting to clarify its future direction. "If this alliance is only for the Lok Sabha elections, it should be wound up. Otherwise, we need to come together and discuss how to move forward for the Assembly elections," he said.

The National Conference leader also noted that a meeting may take place after the Delhi elections, which could provide clarity on whether the alliance will continue.

Regarding the rising support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Delhi elections next month, Abdullah stated, "We have no involvement with the Delhi elections, so I cannot comment on it. The AAP, Congress, and other local political parties will decide how to challenge the BJP." He acknowledged AAP’s previous successes in Delhi but emphasised that it was too early to predict the outcome of this year’s elections.

Additionally, Abdullah spoke about the orientation programme for newly-elected members of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. He explained that while many of the legislators had been part of the assembly before, the structure and functions had changed since Jammu and Kashmir became a union territory. The programme, which included participation from the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, aims to help members understand the new system and their roles within it, ensuring they can better represent their constituents in future sessions.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda is presiding over a significant election management meeting at the party's state unit office in Delhi on Thursday. The gathering is focused on evaluating preparations for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

During the meeting, approximately 43 committees, tasked with overseeing critical aspects such as booth management, social media strategy, and advertising, will present their feedback. JP Nadda is expected to provide strategic guidance to strengthen the party’s campaign.

Earlier, JP Nadda also chaired the Delhi BJP Executive Committee meeting (BJP Sanchalan Samiti) attended by key leaders, including Virendra Sachdeva, Vijayant Panda, Alka Gurjar, Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, Manoj Tiwari, and Dr Harsh Vardhan, among others. The gathering reviewed progress and strategies while Nadda shared his “success mantra” with attendees.

Meanwhile, the BJP has intensified its criticism of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). BJP candidate Arvinder Singh Lovely remarked, "The administrative structure in Delhi has completely collapsed. The government, which has spent 10 years blaming the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor for its inefficiency, must explain why it is contesting elections again. If they cannot work, they are contesting only to enjoy power. Delhi deserves a government that doesn’t make excuses."

The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February 5, with votes set to be counted on February 8. Key deadlines include January 17 for filing nominations, January 18 for scrutiny, and January 20 as the last date for withdrawal of candidature.

The incumbent AAP, which secured massive victories in the last two elections—winning 67 and 62 out of 70 seats respectively—is eyeing a third term. However, it faces a stiff contest from the BJP and Congress. AAP is banking on its governance record in education, healthcare, and welfare schemes to secure another win.

Aam Aadmi Party delegation led by party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met the Election Commission over their 'concerns' regarding alleged irregularities in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly elections.
The party highlighted a significant surge in voter registrations and deletions on the seat while alleging a "voter fraud" taking place at a large scale.

Former Delhi CM Kejriwal said that a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. He also claimed that out of 89 people who had applied for deletion of 5500 names from the voter list, 18 denied submitting the request.

"The Chief Election Commissioner is out, but we met with the other two commissioners. One of the issues we raised was that in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly, between December 15 and January 7, a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. The total votes in this assembly are 1,00,000. This means that 5.5 per cent of the votes were registered in the last 22 days, which clearly indicates some irregularities. There are issues with these applications," Kejriwal told reporters after meeting the Election Commissioners, here on Thursday.

"When the lower officials investigated, the individuals whose names appeared on these applications denied having submitted any request to cut votes. 89 people had applied for 5,500 votes, and 18 of them came to the Election Commission and denied submitting any applications. This means there is a large-scale election fraud happening," he added.

The AAP Chief also alleged that from December 15 to January 8,13,000 new voter applications were received.

He also lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly targeting BJP candidate Parvesh Verma, accusing him of distributing money. He also raised objections against health camps and job fairs announced by the BJP.

Kejriwal said that the Election Commission assured them that "strict action" will be taken against any "corrupt practices".

"Where did all these people come from in just 15 days? These people are coming from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to get fake votes registered. Thirdly, we pointed out that Parvesh Verma in the New Delhi seat is openly distributing money, and health camps are being held with glasses being distributed. He announced on January 15 that job fairs will be held. All of this falls under corrupt practices according to the Election Commission's rules. Parvesh Verma should be barred from contesting the election," he said.

"We are happy that the Election Commission assured us that these corrupt practices will not be allowed to happen, and strict actions will be taken. We also requested that the local EROs (Election Registration Officers) be removed from their positions. Yesterday, we submitted an application regarding this, but no action was taken," he added.

On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi wrote another letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, raising the issue of adding and deleting the names of voters in the New Delhi Assembly constituency and seeking an immediate meeting on the issue.

CM Atishi previously wrote another letter to the CEC regarding the same issue on January 5.

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eight seats.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Manoj Tiwari on Thursday that the party's manifesto for the upcoming Delhi Assembly Elections will be released in the next two to three days.
The Lok Sabha MP said that the BJP will provide facilities to people instead of "deceiving" people by "making false promises" like the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party..

"In two to three days our manifesto 'Sankalp Patra' will also be released, We are going to provide all those facilities to the people, whom Arvind Kejriwal deceived by making false promises and misleading them," Tiwari said.

Tiwari further alleged that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal "deceived Bus Marshals" and "killed people by making them drink polluted water."

"I want to say only one thing, the way we constructed the Pragati Maidan's tunnel, similarly we want to give that life to people living in slums. We want to give them clean water, breathable air. And we will provide these facilities once we get elected for five years," Tiwari added.

Speaking about BJP's election management meeting which was chaired by the party president JP Nadda earlier today, Tiwari emphasised that Nadda has given many welfare schemes to the country.

"Today he (JP Nadda) spent 2-3 hours here. Nadda ji has given many welfare schemes to the country. Today he infused enthusiasm. We thank him." Tiwari said.

Earlier in the day, JP Nadda chaired the Delhi election management meeting to review Delhi election preparations ahead of the polls.

The first meeting of 23 dignitaries over Prominent attendees included Virendra Sachdeva, Vijayant Panda, Alka Gurjar, Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, Manoj Tiwari, Yogesh Chandolia, Satish Upadhyay, Manjit Singh Sirsa, Vijendra Gupta, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Praveen Khandelwal, Pawan Sharma, Dr Harsh Vardhan, and Bansuri Swaraj and other were presented.

Nadda, who is also the Union Health Minister, reviewed progress and shared the success mantra with the members.

The Delhi assembly elections will be held in a single phase on February 5, while the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Thursday held a meeting with the Delhi Assembly Election Management Committee at the state BJP office and reviewed the party's organizational arrangements in view of the upcoming Assembly election and guided the party members.
Delhi State BJP President Virendraa Sachdev, Election In-charge Baijayant Jay Panda, Co-Election In-charge Atul Garg (MP), Co-In-charge Alka Gurjar, State Organization General Secretary Pawan Rana, MP Harsh Malhotra and MP Manoj Tiwari were also present in this meeting, according to a statement from the party.

Nadda first held a meeting with the Delhi Election Conducting Committee (Chunav Sanchalan Samiti) of BJP and then held a meeting of different departments of election management and took stock of the election preparations of the party.

Giving important instructions to the officials in view of the elections, Nadda called upon them to ensure the historic victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi in the Delhi Assembly Elections, the release stated.

Nadda asked the members of the State BJP Election Conducting Committee and Election Management Committee to further improve the arrangements of the party.

The Party President said that this Delhi Assembly election is an opportunity to choose between "Arvind Kejriwal's lies and corruption" and "BJP's truth and development."

He said that the people of Delhi have made up their mind to get rid of Arvind "Kejriwal's AAP-da".

"I have full faith that the great people of Delhi will choose truth and development in this election and will free Delhi from AAP-da" Nadda said, as per the statement.

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

An editorial published by the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamna has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the party of neglecting serious national issues to focus on the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
According to the editorial, "The schedule for the Delhi Assembly elections has been announced. Voting will take place on February 5, and the results will be declared on February 8. Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Shah, and central ministers of the BJP have fully thrown themselves into this election."

"The BJP's goal is to defeat Arvind Kejriwal and take control of the Delhi Assembly. Meanwhile, China has infiltrated Ladakh and settled two villages. Naxals have killed 10-15 police officers in Chhattisgarh. Violence continues unabated in Manipur. In a state like Maharashtra, daylight murders are happening, and the killers have the government's protection," the Saamna editorial read.

The published editorial accused the BJP of resorting to extreme measures to defeat the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

"All in all, the BJP's policy seems to be that focusing on these serious issues is foolish, and defeating the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi is the most important matter. The BJP has decided to go to any lengths to achieve this. The BJP's approach is that they will win everywhere and sit in power."

The editorial argues that a "new form of democracy" has taken root in India, one that focuses on eliminating every political rival through questionable means.

"A new form of democracy has emerged in the country, one that doesn't want to leave a single political opponent alive, and the direct example of this was seen in Maharashtra and Haryana. Now, it is Delhi's turn," the editorial added.

The editorial alleged that there are "discrepancies in the voter list of Delhi" and that "Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has complained that citizens from Eastern Uttar Pradesh have been removed from the list by labelling them as Rohingyas or Bangladeshis."

According to the editorial the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar is in denial and questioned, "What world is Rajiv Kumar living in? Wasn't Trump elected as US President after an EVM scandal?"

The editorial referred to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's claims that EVMs can be hacked and pointed to various instances in the U.S. where the integrity of the electoral process was questioned.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece went further, alleging the BJP of securing victories through dishonest means. "The victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party, i.e., Modi-Shah, is never straightforward. They have achieved every win through crooked means, often by rigging the system," the party stated. It cited the 2019 Maharashtra elections, where the BJP reportedly contested 132 seats but ended up with 120, a performance the Shiv Sena (UBT) described as an "anomaly".

"What extraordinary work did the Shinde faction do in Maharashtra to win 58 seats?" the editorial remarked, referring to the Shiv Sena faction that defected to the BJP.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) further accused the Election Commission of playing a biased role in the Maharashtra political crisis, specifically over the decision to award the Shiv Sena's "bow-and-arrow" symbol to the rival faction in Thane.

The editorial taking a dig at ECI wrote, "They gave the clock symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party to Ajit Pawar during Sharad Pawar's lifetime, should not speak of transparency and morality."

According to the editorial, "However, they (ECI) should remember that Modi and Shah are not immortal; they will have to account for their actions. Hence, times will change, and everyone will have to answer for their sins. The Delhi Assembly elections could prove to be the spark for BJP's downfall"

The editorial also took a potshot at the Congress party, questioning its priorities. "While the country is fighting against the Modi-Shah dictatorship, the Congress is throwing mud at AAP rather than the BJP," the mouth piece read, expressing bewilderment over Congress's decision to focus on Kejriwal's AAP rather than targeting the BJP.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece voiced concerns about the role of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor. "The Lieutenant Governor is currently acting as an agent of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Once the Model Code of Conduct is enforced, all powers of the Chief Minister and Ministers in Delhi are supposed to be stripped, but the Lieutenant Governor is doing the BJP's bidding. This is dangerous," them editorial warned.

Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Vishnu Mittal on Thursday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital for its failure to improve conditions in the city's slums and claimed that the slum dwellers have decided to support the BJP, citing poor living conditions and a lack of basic amenities under the AAP.

Vishnu Mittal, the BJP's convener for the 'Jhuggi Abhiyan' (Slum Campaign), announced that on January 11th, the 'pradhans' (leaders) of Delhi's slums will gather at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address them.

On Thursday, BJP president J P Nadda conducted a comprehensive review of preparations for the forthcoming Delhi Assembly elections at the party's Delhi unit office. During his four-hour visit, he engaged with in-charges, poll panel members, state functionaries and frontal organisations, emphasising the importance of connecting with diverse social groups for enhanced electoral performance.

He assessed the preparations for the February 5 elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

According to a BJP statement, Nadda expressed confidence that the BJP would secure a complete majority to form the government in Delhi.

Nadda presented the election as a choice between "falsehoods and corruption" of Arvind Kejriwal and the BJP's "truth and development".

A senior Delhi BJP functionary reported that the national president stressed the importance of expanding their outreach beyond existing supporters. He advised that engaging solely with current party supporters would not yield desired results.

During the review meetings, Nadda was briefed about the party's successful outreach to over one lakh women through various initiatives. He instructed the Mahila Morcha to intensify their engagement with women voters before the elections.

Parvesh Verma, the BJP nominee for the New Delhi Assembly constituency, addressed Arvind Kejriwal's claims regarding voter list irregularities on Thursday. He suggested that the AAP leader was making unfounded accusations due to his apprehension of losing.

"Over the past five years, the number of voters in the New Delhi constituency has dropped from 1,46,000 to 1,04,000. This means 40,000 voters have been removed from the list. A total of 61,000 votes were deleted, while only 22,000 new voters were added. On average, 1,000 votes were removed from the list every month," Verma stated.

Verma criticised Kejriwal further, predicting that the AAP leader would eventually blame electronic voting machines for his electoral defeat.

"Kejriwal is scared. The fear of losing has gripped him. That's why he is now using the voter list issue as an excuse. Soon, he will start blaming EVMs for his defeat," stated Verma.
"It is evident that Kejriwal recognises his diminishing support. His influence over constituency voters has reduced, leading him to make baseless allegations as a distraction. The New Delhi electorate is discerning and will not be influenced by such statements," the BJP representative continued.

Earlier in the day, Arvind Kejriwal headed an Aam Aadmi Party delegation to the Election Commission to discuss their apprehensions about alleged discrepancies in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly elections.

The Delhi BJP's manifesto committee has put forward several proposals, including a Rs 2,500 monthly stipend for women, complimentary electricity up to 300 units for individuals and 500 units for religious establishments, aiming to counter similar electoral pledges by the AAP and Congress, according to party officials on Thursday. These manifesto proposals await approval from the central leadership, after which the official announcement of electoral promises will be made in the forthcoming days.

The party has confirmed its commitment to maintain existing free schemes implemented by the current AAP government, including complimentary bus travel for women and senior citizens' pilgrimage programmes, upon assuming office.

At the party's "Parivartan Rally" in Rohini on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured Delhi residents that a BJP government would preserve beneficial public welfare programmes if elected to govern the capital.
The Prime Minister additionally pledged that under BJP governance, Delhi's women would be able to manage their households comfortably, whilst ensuring employment opportunities and financial savings for the general public.

The Delhi elections are scheduled for February 5, with vote counting to take place on February 8. (PTI)