The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Tuesday that the Delhi assembly election will take place on February 5 in a single-phase poll, with vote counting scheduled for February 8. The term of the current 70-member assembly ends on February 23.

The upcoming election will witness a three-way contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition parties, BJP and Congress.

AAP is seeking to secure a third consecutive term, having dominated the 2020 assembly election by winning 62 out of 70 seats. The BJP secured just eight seats, while Congress was completely wiped out.

However, AAP faces challenges this time as it tries to maintain its voter base following the arrest of several party leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on corruption charges last year. The party has been promising a series of welfare schemes aimed at women, senior citizens, and religious figures such as temple priests and granthis of gurudwaras.

Meanwhile, the BJP has targeted AAP and its leader Kejriwal, accusing them of corruption, while positioning itself as a cleaner alternative.

Congress, after being rejected in the last two assembly elections, is striving to regain its footing in Delhi politics. The party is focusing on the women electorate through its “Pyari Didi Yojana,” which promises Rs 2,500 in financial assistance to eligible women.

On Monday, the ECI released a revised voter list for Delhi, showing significant growth in the electorate. The voter count increased from 1,53,57,529 in October 2024 to 1,55,24,858 by December 2024, adding 1,67,329 new voters over two months.

(With IANS input)