New Delhi: As the Delhi Assembly elections draw near, the political heat has intensified. On Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Rachna Reddy accused Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi of improper conduct following allegations that Atishi summoned the District Election Officer (DEO) to her official residence without a clear agenda. Reddy claimed Atishi sought personal details about objectors in the electoral roll, raising questions about the timing of the meeting just ahead of the elections.
Reddy criticized the AAP government for allegedly misusing its power and questioned the functioning of the Delhi administration, which she said was more focused on superficial statements than effective governance. Reddy also suggested that Atishi’s actions were an attempt to exert undue influence over the electoral process.
“Is AAP trying to bully out of desperation, frustration or anger? We don’t know. Atishi, who has been a minister and now is CM, has no right to call the DEO to her residence without an agenda and ask for personal details of electors,” Reddy said, emphasizing that such actions could undermine the democratic process.
Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh defended the meeting, claiming that the DEO, being accountable to the government, had a duty to meet officials. He insisted that there was nothing improper about seeking information regarding voters and ghost objectors. Singh dismissed the allegations of threatening the officer, stressing that the DEO’s role was to manage election processes and that there was no wrongdoing in meeting him.
In the midst of the controversy, the New Delhi District Administration requested police protection for the DEO, citing concerns about potential disruptions to the election process. The request highlighted the tense political environment, where frequent interactions with political parties had led to concerns over peace and security for election officials.
Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also weighed in, calling for action against AAP leaders for allegedly threatening the election officer, accusing Atishi and other leaders of attempting to influence the electoral process.
Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva echoed similar sentiments, alleging that Kejriwal and his team were trying to manipulate the elections. He pointed to instances where Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh had allegedly threatened election officers, further fueling suspicions of election interference.
As the election dates approach, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to social media, urging Delhi residents to choose between the “politics of work” and the “politics of abuse” in the upcoming election. Kejriwal expressed confidence in the AAP’s chances, claiming that the people of Delhi would embrace the party’s vision of progress.
The Election Commission of India has announced that the elections will be held in a single phase on February 5, with vote counting on February 8. The final voter list published on January 6, 2025, reveals that 1,55,24,858 voters are registered in Delhi, marking a 1.09% increase in voter registrations compared to previous elections.
With the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) now in force, the political landscape is heating up as AAP, BJP, and Congress gear up for one of the most fiercely contested elections in Delhi’s history.
In the contest for the New Delhi seat, the BJP has fielded Parvesh Verma, former MP and son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, to challenge Arvind Kejriwal, while Congress has entered the fray with Sandeep Dikshit, the son of former CM Sheila Dikshit.
For the Kalkaji seat, the BJP has nominated Ramesh Bidhuri to take on CM Atishi, with Congress fielding Alka Lamba.