New Delhi [India]: A total of 155 cases have been registered for violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ahead of the February 5 assembly elections in Delhi, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
As of January 13, Delhi Police have arrested 6,371 individuals under preventive measures and provisions of the Excise Act.
According to officials, 105 unlicensed arms and 78 cartridges have been confiscated since the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the poll date. Additionally, 16,315.82 liters of liquor were seized during this period.
Authorities also reported the seizure of 57.55 kilograms of drugs, valued at ₹12 crore, along with cash amounting to ₹1,02,69,200.
“To ensure free, fair, and peaceful Legislative Assembly Elections in Delhi, the Delhi Police is strictly implementing the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India and adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards any MCC violations,” stated an official release.
The police have increased vigilance at interstate border checkpoints and intensified operations to curb illegal activities such as the smuggling of arms and liquor.
With the announcement of the election schedule on January 7, the MCC came into effect in Delhi and will remain active until the completion of the election process.
The Delhi Assembly elections will be conducted in a single phase on February 5, with the vote counting scheduled for February 8.
Key dates for the election process include:
- January 17: Last date for filing nominations.
- January 18: Date for scrutiny of nominations.
- January 20: Last date for withdrawal of candidature.
The elections are expected to witness a three-way contest among the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress.
The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has faced major setbacks in the last two assembly elections, failing to secure even a single seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections, winning 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP secured eight seats.