Delhi to vote on Feb 5 in single phase, bypoll in UP’s Milkipur on same day; counting on Feb 8
By Tajdar H. Zaidi
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Tuesday the schedule for the upcoming Delhi Legislative Assembly elections. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stated that voting will take place in a single phase on February 5, with counting of votes scheduled for February 8.
Bypolls for two Assembly constituencies—Milkipur in Uttar Pradesh and Erode in Tamil Nadu—will also be conducted on the same day.
The deadline for filing nominations is January 17, while scrutiny of the nominations will be completed by January 18. Candidates will have until January 20 to withdraw their nominations.
“This is a single-phase election. We deliberately chose a Wednesday for polling, as we observed this strategy encourages higher voter turnout, as seen in Maharashtra,” Kumar explained at a press conference.
The tenure of the 70-member Delhi Assembly will conclude on February 23. Traditionally, Delhi’s Assembly elections are conducted in a single phase.
This year, the elections will witness a triangular contest involving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The AAP will aim to secure a third consecutive term in Delhi, while Congress seeks to reclaim political relevance in the National Capital. Meanwhile, the BJP is banking on allegations of corruption against AAP convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to bolster its chances.
AAP currently governs Delhi and Punjab. On April 10, 2023, the ECI recognized it as a national party. The party’s symbol is a broom, and it is part of the opposition coalition, I.N.D.I.A. Recently, renowned UPSC educator Awadh Ojha joined AAP, boosting its intellectual appeal.
The AAP’s origins trace back to the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement, which demanded the Jan Lokpal Bill. A rift between Kejriwal and activist Anna Hazare on entering electoral politics led to the party’s formation. While Hazare advocated staying apolitical, Kejriwal argued that systemic reforms required direct political participation.
The party made its electoral debut in the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections, emerging as the second-largest party. AAP formed a government with Congress’s support, and Kejriwal became Chief Minister. However, the government resigned after 49 days when it failed to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Following President’s Rule in Delhi, the 2015 elections marked a landslide victory for AAP, securing 67 of 70 seats. Kejriwal resumed his role as Chief Minister, and AAP retained power in the 2020 elections, winning 62 seats.
Outside Delhi, AAP gained traction in Punjab, becoming the principal opposition in the 2017 Assembly elections with 20 seats. In 2022, it swept the state, winning 92 seats, and Bhagwant Mann became Punjab’s Chief Minister.
In Gujarat’s 2022 Assembly elections, AAP secured 12.92% of the vote and five seats, earning state party recognition. It also holds state party status in Goa.
In Jammu and Kashmir, AAP achieved a milestone in 2024 when Mehraj Malik won the Doda Assembly seat, becoming the first AAP MLA in the region.
The party’s growing footprint signals its emergence as a significant force in Indian politics.
