Battle for Capital: AAP eyes third term; BJP, Cong look at resurgence as Delhi votes tomorrow

New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) – The political battlefield in Delhi is primed for a high-stakes Assembly election as over 1.56 crore voters gear up to cast their ballots on Wednesday, February 7. Voting will commence at 7 AM and continue until 6 PM across 13,766 polling stations in all 70 Assembly constituencies, determining the fate of 699 candidates in a contest that could significantly reshape the capital’s political landscape.

The Key Contenders: AAP, BJP, and Congress in a Fierce Contest​

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is seeking a third consecutive term, relying on its track record of governance and welfare schemes. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a determined push to end its 25-year-long exile from power in Delhi.

On the other hand, the Congress, which governed the national capital for 15 years until 2013, is attempting a comeback after failing to win a single seat in the last two Assembly elections.

Robust Security Arrangements for Polling Day​

The Election Commission has implemented stringent security measures to ensure smooth polling. The security deployment includes:

• 220 companies of paramilitary forces
• 35,626 Delhi Police personnel
• 19,000 home guards

Nearly 3,000 polling booths have been identified as sensitive, with special security arrangements such as drone surveillance and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) in place to prevent any untoward incidents.

To facilitate senior citizens and persons with disabilities, 733 polling stations have been specially designated for accessibility. Additionally, under the home voting facility, 6,980 out of 7,553 eligible voters have already exercised their franchise.

Tech-Enabled Voting Experience​

In a bid to ease the voting process, the Election Commission has introduced a Queue Management System (QMS) app, allowing voters to check real-time crowd levels at polling stations and reduce waiting times.

High-Voltage Campaigning Ends Amid Heated Exchanges​

The election campaign, which officially ended at 6 PM on Monday, saw fierce battles between the AAP, BJP, and Congress, each striving to capture voter sentiment.

• AAP, spearheaded by Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, centered its campaign on its welfare-driven governance model.
• BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and party president JP Nadda, launched an aggressive attack on the AAP’s governance, focusing on allegations of corruption and law and order issues.
• Congress, with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi at the forefront, positioned itself as an alternative to both, taking aim at the failures of both AAP and BJP in addressing the concerns of Delhiites.

The discourse was punctuated by sharp rhetoric, AI-generated spoofs, and intense debates over issues like the "Sheesh Mahal" controversy, Yamuna's water quality, and alleged voter list tampering.

Major Poll Promises: The Freebie War Continues​

In the run-up to the elections, all three major parties have rolled out lucrative promises to woo voters:

• AAP’s key pledges:
  
  • Free bus rides for students
  • Insurance cover for auto and taxi drivers
  • ₹18,000 financial aid for temple priests and gurdwara granthis
• BJP’s promises:
  
  • ₹21,000 assistance for pregnant women
  • Subsidized cooking gas cylinders at ₹500
• Congress’s commitments:
  
  • ₹8,500 per month unemployment allowance

What’s at Stake on February 8?​

The results on February 8 will determine whether the AAP retains its dominance, whether the BJP can break its losing streak, or whether the Congress can make an unexpected comeback.

With voter turnout expected to play a crucial role, all eyes are now on Delhi’s electorate as they step out to cast their votes on Wednesday.