All you need to know about the 2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly election: the election, to be held on February 5, 2025, will decide the makeup of the 70-member assembly and the results will be announced on February 8, 2025.
Timeline and Important Dates for the Election
Schedule for Delhi Assembly elections as announced by the Election Commission of India:
| Election Episode | Date |
| Notification Date | January 10, 2025 |
| Last Date for Filing Nominations | January 17, 2025 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | January 18, 2025 |
| Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidature | January 20, 2025 |
| Date of Poll | February 5, 2025 |
| Counting of Votes | February 8, 2025 |
For the election dates being announced, the Model Code of Conduct will come into effect in Delhi and will remain in effect till the election process is completed.
Election Laws and Regulations
There has been gossip regarding changes in India's electoral framework to the elections. Among the more interesting proposals was one to hold elections for state assemblies and the national parliament at the same time in order to streamline governance and cut costs. But the proposal failed to garner the necessary two-thirds majority in Parliament’s lower house, where 269 lawmakers voted for the reform effort and 198 against. Critics claimed that such a system would erode federalism, attenuate the influence of local parties and disproportionately advantage ruling parties at the federal level. The cabinet has said it would be open to forwarding the proposal to a parliamentary committee for more discussion.
The Rise of Governance and the Confrontation for Governance
The new election is being held under a veneer of brutal political calculation. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which took control of Delhi’s government after the 2015 elections, is aiming for a third straight term. BJP is making concerted efforts to come to power in the capital after 27 years. The Indian National Congress (INC), which has become an inconspicuous force in the recent Delhi elections, is looking to make a strong comeback.
In September 2024, India's Supreme Court granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and then-Chief Minister, after spending close to six months in jail for allegedly abusing his position for corruption relating to alcohol policy in the national capital. After being released, Kejriwal announced he would resign as Chief Minister, saying he would only return to the post if the electorate confirmed his integrity in the upcoming elections. He also insisted on moving the election date to November along with Maharashtra's elections, which did not happen.
Campaign Dynamics and Strategies
With the election date nearing, all the major parties have ramped up their campaigns, but each has employed different tactics to capture the electorate's attention.
New Game Plan: BJP Makes New Attempt To Dislodge AAP
The BJP is using a welfare narrative with an appeal across the voting spectrum. Among the promises in an ambitious manifesto are monthly handouts of ₹2,500 to poor women, a one-off grant of ₹21,000 to each pregnant woman, subsidised cooking gas, and higher pensions for the elderly. These efforts mimic tactics that the BJP has found successful in recent state elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been actively engaged, kick-starting the party's campaign in Rohini and attacking the AAP government regarding water cuts and pollution while dubbing the administration an "Aapda" (disaster).
AAP's Efforts to Woo Voters
The AAP, in contrast, is reminding voters of the past decade of governance, emphasising the progress of education, healthcare and public services. There are various schemes announced by the party such as the Mahila Samman Yojana, which will provide a monthly financial assistance of ₹2,100 to women and the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana — offering ₹18,000 monthly to temple priests and gurdwara granthis. These initiatives are intended to solidify AAP's image as a pro-people party that works for the benefit of society.
Congress's Renewed Optimism
The Congress party has announced that it will be fighting independently at all the 70 seats, ruling out any possible tie-up with the AAP. Devender Yadav, Delhi Congress President made it clear that post-election, the Congress Legislative Party will decide the CM. Declaring the "Pyari Didi Yojana" under which ₹2,500 per month financial assistance will be given to women in the national capital, also on the lines of the successful initiative in Karnataka, the party has introduced a string of welfare schemes aimed at garnering higher votes from women.
Key Electoral Battles
This election promises several high-profile contests:
New Delhi Constituency: Contesting in New Delhi is Arvind Kejriwal (AAP) against former MP Parvesh Verma (BJP), son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma. The Congress has fielded Sandeep Dikshit, the son of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, turning it into a high-stakes triangular contest.
Kalkaji Constituency: Chief Minister Atishi Marlena (AAP) will challenge former MP Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP). Former MLA Alka Lamba of Congress has also been fielded, contributing to the competitive diversity.
Public Sentiment and Opinion Polls
Opinion polls have indicated a tightly contested election. While the AAP is betting on its record in governance and welfare schemes, the BJP is counting on anti-incumbency and its record of welfare schemes. The Congress, having failed in the past, is seeking to claim space as a viable alternative by countering some issues such as pollution, inflation, and unemployment.
List of the Assembly Constituencies in Delhi |
EBVD12.01.2015
Last Updated on : February 08, 2025