Delhi polls set for Feb 5; AAP aims for hat-trick, BJP gears up for comeback

RESULTS ON FEBRUARY 8

- AAISHA SABIR

Polling for all 70 Delhi Assembly seats in Delhi will take place on February 5, with votes set to be counted on February 8. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced the schedule on Tuesday. The polls are poised to witness a thrilling triangular contest among the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a resurgent BJP and the Congress, which seeks to reclaim its lost footing in the national capital.

"It is a single-phase election. We have deliberately scheduled polling on a Wednesday to encourage voter turnout, as seen in Maharashtra. The entire election process will conclude by February 10," Kumar stated during a press conference. He also assured that the voter roll is secure, dismissing allegations of arbitrary deletions. "No deletions can occur without documentation, field verification, and an opportunity for the individual to be heard," he explained.

Kumar also affirmed the accuracy of the electoral process, stating that over 4.5 crore VVPAT slips verified since 2019 showed no discrepancies with EVM results. Addressing a press conference, Kumar highlighted that over 67,000 VVPATs have been checked as per the Supreme Court's 2019 mandate, with “not even a difference of one vote” found.