Delhi polls: High-octane campaign ends; AI spoofs, roadshows set stage for Feb 5 battle

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) – The high-voltage campaign for the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections officially concluded at 6 PM on Monday, marking the beginning of the mandatory silence period before polling begins at 7 AM on Wednesday.

The three major contenders—Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress—pulled out all stops in the final hours of canvassing, deploying top leaders for roadshows, rallies, and bike processions to sway voters.

AAP Seeks Third Consecutive Term​

AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, remains optimistic about securing a third consecutive term, banking on its governance record and welfare initiatives. On the last day of campaigning, Kejriwal, along with Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, addressed three rallies, including one in Kalkaji, in a final effort to energize supporters.

BJP’s Push to End 25-Year Drought in Delhi​

The BJP, striving to reclaim Delhi after more than 25 years, held 22 roadshows and rallies across the city. Senior leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President J.P. Nadda, and multiple chief ministers, spearheaded the party’s last-minute push.

Congress Aims for a Comeback​

Struggling to regain lost ground after drawing a blank in the past two elections, the Congress intensified its campaign, with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi leading roadshows in Kalkaji and Kasturba Nagar.

Electoral Preparedness and Voter Details​

According to the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), 1.56 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes across 13,766 polling stations, comprising 83.76 lakh men, 72.36 lakh women, and 1,267 third-gender voters.

To facilitate accessibility, 733 polling stations have been designated for persons with disabilities, and the Election Commission has introduced the Queue Management System (QMS) app, enabling voters to check crowd levels in real time.

Under the home voting facility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, 6,980 out of 7,553 eligible voters have already exercised their franchise. This initiative, which commenced on January 24, will continue until February 4.

Political Jibes and Controversies​

The campaign was marked by aggressive rhetoric, AI-generated spoofs, and catchy slogans. AAP labeled the BJP as the “Bharatiya Jhootha Party” (party of liars) and the “Gali Galoch Party” (abusive party). In retaliation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbed AAP as “AAP-Daa” (disaster), calling Kejriwal “Ghoshna Mantri” (minister of announcements).

Congress also joined the fray, branding Kejriwal as “Farziwal” (fake) and “Chhota Recharge” (small recharge) of Modi.

Security Measures and Election Preparations​

The Delhi Police has registered over 1,000 cases of alleged Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations since January 7, with 33,434 individuals arrested for various election-related infractions.

To ensure a smooth election process, the Election Commission has deployed:

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

Additionally, over 21,500 ballot units and VVPATs have been readied, including dummy and Braille ballot papers for greater accessibility.

What’s at Stake?​

The fiercely contested battle will decide whether AAP retains power, BJP breaks its long losing streak in Delhi, or Congress stages an unexpected resurgence. The results of this high-stakes election will be declared on February 8, setting the course for Delhi’s political future.