Delhi Elections 2025 Live Updates: BJP releases 4th list of candidates

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, Delhi Police has launched a crackdown on violators of the model code of conduct to maintain law and order.
Between Jan 7 and 13, police registered 155 cases and seized goods worth crores, including illicit liquor, firearms, and drugs. Violations include unauthorised gatherings and rallies, according to an officer. During the crackdown, police seized 105 unlicensed firearms, 78 cartridges, and 13,600 litres of illicit liquor, valued in lakhs. Additionally, 57.55 kilograms of drugs worth over Rs 12 crore were confiscated. The police also recovered 37 kilograms of silver and Rs 1.02 crore in cash. A total of 6,371 individuals were taken into preventive custody.

To ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections, the police are strictly enforcing the Election Commission’s guidelines and adopting a zero-tolerance approach to violations of the Model Code of Conduct. They have intensified vigilance at inter-state border checkpoints and are focusing on curbing illegal arms and liquor smuggling. Security arrangements are being strengthened, with around 60 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) already deployed, and plans to request an additional 60-80 companies in the coming days.

An FIR was registered at the Govindpuri police station in southeast Delhi in connection with the misuse of a govt vehicle belonging to Chief Minister Atishi for transporting election materials in Kalkaji. The complaint, filed by the returning officer of the constituency, alleged that CM had violated the model code of conduct. The returning officer also demanded that an FIR be registered against an executive engineer of PWD for misusing the vehicle. The Aam Aadmi Party perceived this as “blatant misuse of power” targeting the party ahead of the assembly elections.

The returning officer of Kalkaji said his office received a complaint on Jan 8 about a govt vehicle being used for political purposes in violation of the election model code of conduct. The complainant explained, “The general administration department of Delhi govt issued a letter on Jan 7, stating that there would be a total ban on the use of official vehicles for campaigning, electioneering or election-related travel during elections.” The comp lainant said that an FIR should be registered against the executive engineer who used the vehicle to ferry election materials to Kalkaji. After an inquiry, a case under Section 223 (a) (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered.An FIR was registered at the Govindpuri police station in southeast Delhi in connection with the misuse of a govt vehicle belonging to Chief Minister Atishi for transporting election materials in Kalkaji. The complaint, filed by the returning officer of the constituency, alleged that CM had violated the model code of conduct. The returning officer also demanded that an FIR be registered against an executive engineer of PWD for misusing the vehicle. The Aam Aadmi Party perceived this as “blatant misuse of power” targeting the party ahead of the assembly elections.

The returning officer of Kalkaji said his office received a complaint on Jan 8 about a govt vehicle being used for political purposes in violation of the election model code of conduct. The complainant explained, “The general administration department of Delhi govt issued a letter on Jan 7, stating that there would be a total ban on the use of official vehicles for campaigning, electioneering or election-related travel during elections.” The comp lainant said that an FIR should be registered against the executive engineer who used the vehicle to ferry election materials to Kalkaji. After an inquiry, a case under Section 223 (a) (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered.

The home ministry has granted permission to ED to prosecute former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for alleged money laundering connected to the liquor scam case.

A special PMLA court in Delhi had paused framing of charges against Kejriwal after he moved Delhi HC against the trial court taking cognisance of the chargesheet in the absence of specific sanction for prosecution under PMLA. CBI, which has filed a chargesheet against Kejriwal under the Prevention of Corruption Act, had got the requisite sanction in Aug last year.

Kejriwal and AAP have be en accused of receiving bribes from the ‘South Group’, a cartel that controlled sale and distribution of liquor in the national capital and allegedly benefitted from the excise policy framed by the Delhi govt for 2021-22.

ongress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday jibed at the state of affairs in the city by mocking open drains and broken roads as “Kejriwal’s Shining Delhi, Paris-like Delhi”, in a sharp escalation between allies-turned-rivals who have decided to contest the coming assembly election separately.
Rahul released videos of a visit to Rithala showing open drains and bikers negotiating mounds of mud in the absence of proper roads. A Congress worker is seen telling Rahul that he has sought time from LG to complain about “corruption” in the construction of a drain that collapsed in six months. “Come and see… it’s the same everywhe re,” Rahul said, posting the videos on social media, with the hashtag “Saaf karo Delhi”. Rahul also sought to corner the ex-CM on issues of social justice and reservations.

The Aam Aadmi Party's Shahdara candidate Jitender Singh Shunty filed his nomination on Tuesday wearing a PPE kit, to highlight his relief efforts as a frontline worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Shunty handled more than 70,000 cremations and made dedicated efforts to ease people's sufferings, earning him the sobriquets "ambulance man" and "corona warrior".

Before filing his nomination, Shunty, a Padma Shri awardee and a social activist, visited a cremation ground and smeared himself with ashes.

Addressing a rally, he expressed his commitment to the welfare of Shahdara's residents. The AAP candidate emphasised that infrastructure, healthcare, education, and employment, needed immediate attention and promised to address these concerns through active legislation and community outreach.

"We are here today to take a step forward in ensuring a brighter future for the people of Shahdara. Together, with the support of the Aam Aadmi Party, we will bring the change that this constituency deserves," Shunty said.

Raghav Chadha, who joined Shunty's rally, expressed confidence in his leadership.

"I am confident that under Jitender Shunty's leadership, Shahdara will see a transformation. His work on the ground and his connection with the people make him the ideal candidate to represent this constituency," the AAP Rajya Sabha MP stated.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted custody parole to former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in a riots-related murder case to enable him to file nomination papers from the Mustafabad constituency on an AIMIM ticket. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna refused his plea for interim bail from January 14 till February 9 to fight the polls, saying that the gravity of allegations against Hussain, that he was the main perpetrator in the violence which resulted in the death of several persons, could not be overlooked.

Merely because he was a former municipal councillor would also not entitle him to interim bail, the court said as it imposed several conditions on Hussain during his custody parole including barring him from interacting with media or any person except the officials concerned in the nomination process.

The court stated that as many as 11 FIRs were registered against him in connection with the riots and he was admittedly in custody in a related money laundering case and UAPA case.

"Considering the antecedents, nature of allegations and having regard to the totality of circumstances, he is granted custody parole for subscribing the oath and to complete the formalities in respect of filing his Nomination Papers," the court ordered.

The Delhi Police has registered five separate FIRs against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leaders for alleged inflammatory social media posts and discriminatory statements.

The complaints range from defamation and misinformation to violating electoral ethics and communal harmony.

The first FIR, filed on January 13, accuses AAP of circulating a social media post containing 'inflammatory' remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

The FIR claims that these actions violated multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act, and the Representation of the People Act, as well as the Model Code of Conduct.

The post, labelled as a deliberate attempt to provoke public sentiment, featured animated caricatures of key political figures.

"The social media post contained inflammatory remarks targeting the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. The circulation of the message by the Aam Adami Party is a severe breach of electoral ethics and democratic decorum," said the FIR.

As the battle for Delhi Assembly elections intensifies, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has begun his campaign for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

On Tuesday, he interacted with residents of Rithala, enjoying traditional "dahi-chura" with them on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Rahul Gandhi took to social media platform X to launch a scathing attack on Delhi Chief Arvind Kejriwal. Sharing a video showcasing alleged shortcomings in Delhi's infrastructure and public services, Gandhi sarcastically said, "This is Kejriwal ji's 'shining' Delhi - the so-called Paris of India!"

The scathing remark comes as the battle for Delhi heats up, with political leaders ramping up their campaigns ahead of the state elections.

BJP on Tuesday stepped up its attack on Aam Aadmi Party after Delhi Police said that its probe into bomb threats to schools in the national capital has led to a juvenile and one of his parents is connected to an organisation with links to an NGO which has "deep connections to a particular political party".

However, AAP rejected BJP's allegations and said that these were being made 15 days before Delhi elections when the first threat to Delhi schools was made in May last year. Party leader Sanjay Singh accused BJP of narrating "fabricated stories".

As many as 56 candidates filed their nominations on Tuesday for the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, according to the chief electoral officer. The nomination process for the Assembly polls began on January 10.

So far, 85 nominations have been filed, with 20 submitted on January 13 and nine on January 10.

The prominent candidates who filed their nominations are Chief Minister Atishi from Kalkaji and her challenger Alka Lamba. AAP MLA Somnath Bharti from Malviya Nagar has also filed his nomination.

In the 2020 Assembly elections, AAP swept the polls, winning 62 out of 70 seats, while BJP secured eight. Congress failed to open its account. AAP dominated the 2015 polls too, winning 67 seats while the BJP won three and the Congress drew a blank.

The counting of votes is scheduled for February 8.