The Election Commission announced today that the Delhi Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the votes will be counted on February 8. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with other senior poll officials, shared the election schedule during a press conference.

The term of the 70-member Assembly will end on February 23, so elections must be conducted before that to form a new House. Typically, assembly elections in the national capital are held in a single phase. Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making a strong effort to win a third consecutive term. Meanwhile, the BJP is working hard to challenge AAP's hold. The Congress is also in the race, contesting independently and aiming its attacks at both the BJP and AAP, despite being allied with AAP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. India will soon set a new record with more than one billion votes, Mr. Kumar added.

"Electoral rolls were released yesterday. We are crossing 99 crore voters... We are going to be a nation of one billion voters very soon, which will be another record in voting," Mr Kumar said. He also mentioned that 2024 was a significant election year worldwide, with two-thirds of the global population living in democracies participating in various elections.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that there are over 13,000 polling stations set up in Delhi for the 2025 assembly elections. He also assured that all necessary facilities will be provided to ensure a smooth voting process. "Electoral rolls were released yesterday. We are crossing 99 crore voters... We are going to be a nation of one billion voters very soon, which will be another record in voting," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said. "Political parties involved at each and every stage of voter list preparation with full disclosure and opportunity to object," said Mr Kumar. "Voter turnout manipulation is an impossibility," he added. A picture illustrating the EVMs' "test of judicial scrutiny" was released by the Election Commission, which claims that the courts have "reposed trust" in the electronic voting machines 42 times.

Mr Kumar referred to manipulation accusations as "baseless" and stated that "EVMs undergo scrutiny at every stage." "Due process is followed in deletions or additions of names in electoral rolls," said the poll body chief. "Canards being spread about wrongful additions or deletions in electoral rolls to target particular groups," Mr Kumar said. "15 different parties have emerged as the single largest across 30 States/UTs elections since the Bihar assembly elections in 2020," Mr Kumar said.

"15 different parties have emerged as the single largest across 30 States/UTs elections since the Bihar assembly elections in 2020," he said. Kumar pointed out concerns about issues like electoral roll manipulation, EVMs, voter turnout, and the counting process. He mentioned that they have addressed these concerns both in writing and through face-to-face discussions.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is confident that the people of Delhi will vote wholeheartedly. "We created many records during elections in 2024," he said. The Election Commission has begun a press conference to announce the schedule for the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections. 

On Tuesday, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal released the party's campaign song for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, with the election schedule expected to be announced later that day.

"I urge the people of Delhi to choose a government that focuses on improving the standard of living, combating corruption, reducing pollution and providing quality services to make everyday life easier," said JP Nadda, the BJP head and Union Health Minister. Under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi, the BJP government has been continuously working towards the comprehensive development of Delhi and will further our efforts to turn the dream of a 'Viksit Delhi' into a reality."

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar has expressed confidence that Arvind Kejriwal will be re-elected as Delhi's chief minister for a fourth consecutive term. Speaking to ANI, Kakkar said, "AAP is ready to go into the election. We have the chief ministerial face, and we have declared all 70 candidates. Contrary to that, the BJP and Congress aren't prepared. We hope that the Election Commission will conduct a free and fair election. The people will elect Arvind Kejriwal for the fourth time."

As the Election Commission geared up to announce the dates for the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, Congress leader Alka Lamba stated that there is growing dissatisfaction with the AAP government in Delhi. She mentioned that people have had the chance to observe the governance over the past decade and have compared the work done by former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and other leaders who came after her.

Lamba expressed confidence that people will vote for Congress this time. She is contesting for the Kalkaji Assembly constituency, where she will compete against Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi unit chief Virendraa Sachdeva has criticised the Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal, ahead of the announcement of the election schedule. "The people are also waiting to get the dates on which they would be free from this 'AAPda' government," he told the news agency ANI.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the BJP is making a strong effort to change the outcome. Also in the race is the Congress, which is contesting alone and targeting both the BJP and the AAP, its ally in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.