Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 Highlights: AAP vs BJP over ‘Yamuna poisoning’ claim, Congress chips in

Ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office released the final electoral roll on Monday (January 6, 2025). The national capital now has a total of 1,55,24,858 registered voters, marking a 1.09% increase since the draft electoral list published on October 29, 2024. Of the total voters, 83,49,645 are male, 71,73,952 are female, and 1,261 are from the third gender category.

Kejriwal claimed that the BJP-led Haryana government allegedly mixed poison into the water flowing from the Yamuna into Delhi. “This toxic water could not be purified at the Water Treatment Plant, posing a serious threat to the health of residents—potentially fatal if consumed. Thanks to our engineers, the hazardous water was intercepted before it could reach Delhi, preventing a major disaster,” he said. “Delhi CM Atishi and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann have now written to the Election Commission, requesting an urgent meeting to address the issue,” Kejriwal added.

According to the report, a total of 13 candidates have declared criminal cases related to crimes against women, while two candidates have disclosed cases of murder (IPC Section 302) against them. Additionally, five candidates have reported cases involving an attempt to murder (IPC Section 307).

The ADR and Delhi Election Watch have reviewed the self-sworn affidavits of all 699 candidates running in the Delhi 2025 Assembly Elections. Among them, 5 candidates (1%) are billionaires, with the total assets of all candidates combined reaching Rs 3,952 crore. Notably, BJP candidate Manjinder Singh Sirsa, contesting from Rajouri Garden, has assets exceeding Rs 248 crore, while Congress candidate Gurcharan Singh, running from Krishna Nagar, has declared assets worth over Rs 130 crore.

Out of the 699 candidates, 132 (19%) have declared criminal cases against themselves. In comparison, during the 2020 Delhi Assembly Elections, 133 (20%) of the 672 candidates analyzed had similar declarations. A total of 81 (12%) candidates in this election have declared serious criminal charges. In 2020, 104 (15%) candidates had serious criminal cases listed on their affidavits. Among major parties, 44 (63%) out of 70 AAP candidates, 29 (41%) out of 70 Congress candidates, and 20 (29%) out of 68 BJP candidates have disclosed criminal cases in their affidavits.

In the upcoming Delhi elections, 132 out of 699 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, as per a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Delhi Election Watch. The ADR and Delhi Election Watch analyzed the self-sworn affidavits of all 699 candidates running in the Delhi 2025 Assembly Elections. Among them, 278 candidates represent national parties, 29 are from state parties, 254 come from registered unrecognised parties, and 138 are running as independents.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said AAP’s existing welfare schemes, which provide benefits worth approximately Rs 25,000 per month to residents, will continue if the party stays in power.

“The BJP has already made it clear that they will end these schemes if they come to power. I want to ask the people of Delhi—will you be able to bear the cost if the BJP stops these benefits?” Kejriwal said.

The AAP’s manifesto is being presented as a reaffirmation of its governance approach, which focuses on welfare and infrastructure development. With the BJP vowing to end these schemes, the upcoming election has become a high-stakes contest between the two parties.

Will ensure supply of clean drinking water, clean Yamuna, good roads in next five years if AAP comes to power in Delhi, AAP chief Kejriwal says.

If BJP is voted to power, monthly burden of people will increase by Rs 25,000, says Kejriwal said at the launch of AAP’s manifesto.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal promises free bus travel for students, 50 per cent concession in metro fares, it it returns to power for the third consecutive term.

AAP chief Kejriwal guarantees employment to youth, ‘Mahila Samman Yojna’, free treatment to elderly in party manifesto.

The AAP released its party manifesto today. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has unveiled the manifesto and promised ’15 guarantees’, if voted to power.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur launched a scathing attack on AAP, accusing the party of being “anti-Dalit.” Thakur highlighted that AAP does not have a single Dalit member in the Rajya Sabha and failed to fulfill promises made to the Dalit community.

“They spoke about appointing a Dalit deputy CM, but didn’t follow through. They promised to send 500 Dalit students abroad for higher studies but could only manage to send five. Additionally, they have not provided scholarships to Dalit students,” Thakur said.

He also drew a comparison between AAP and Congress, stating, “On one hand, Rahul Gandhi wants to remove reservations, and on the other, Arvind Kejriwal and AAP are pushing for the same agenda. They are both anti-Ambedkar and anti-Dalit.”

The Aam Aadmi Party will be releasing its manifesto today. Voting for the 70-member Delhi Assembly will be held on February 5.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha will lead a roadshow in Delhi’s Rohini today ar 11 AM.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), calling it the “Aawaidh Aamdaniwali Party” (party that makes illegal income) and accusing it of spreading lies to secure votes and engaging in corruption under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership during its 10 years in power in Delhi.

Shah made these remarks at a public meeting in the Narela Assembly constituency while campaigning for BJP candidate Raj Karan Khatri.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday criticised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling him a “shikari” (hunter) and “Natwarlal” (a reference to a notorious con artist), while urging voters to beware of what he described as Kejriwal’s “trap of freebie politics.”

Chouhan also raised the issue of Kejriwal’s official residence, often referred to by the BJP as the “Sheesh Mahal,” accusing the AAP leader of constructing an elaborate mansion despite pledging not to take any government perks. He claimed that while Kejriwal benefited from public funds, farmers in Delhi were being denied access to central government schemes.

Speaking at a rally in Mundka, Chouhan likened Kejriwal to a hunter setting a trap for his prey, warning the electorate not to fall for his “false promises.”

The Election Commission of India has announced that voting for the Delhi elections will take place on February 5, with the vote counting scheduled for February 8.

Good morning, readers, and welcome to our live coverage of the Delhi elections! We’ll keep you updated throughout the day with the latest news on candidates, constituencies, and all the key developments surrounding the polls. Stay with us for real-time updates as the election day unfolds!