Delhi is set to hold its assembly elections in a single phase on February 5, with the results to be declared on February 8. The election will witness a triangular contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress, raising political temperatures in the midst of a cold wave. Alongside Delhi, by-elections will also take place in Milkipur (Uttar Pradesh) and Erode East (Tamil Nadu) on the same day.

The announcement of the election schedule has brought the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) into effect. The AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, aims to secure a third consecutive term despite facing corruption allegations. The party previously secured landslide victories in the 2015 and 2020 polls, winning 67 and 62 seats, respectively.

Meanwhile, the BJP, which has been out of power in Delhi for 26 years, is determined to reclaim the capital after being reduced to single-digit seats in the last two elections. The Congress, once the dominant force in Delhi with 15 years of uninterrupted rule, is contesting independently this time after its 2024 Lok Sabha poll alliance with the AAP.

A Prestige Battle for the AAP Amid Corruption Allegations

This election is seen as a critical test for the AAP, particularly after Kejriwal stepped down as Chief Minister last year following his arrest in a controversial liquor policy case. The party is banking on its welfare programs, including schemes for women and the elderly, to counter anti-incumbency sentiments and maintain its hold on Delhi. It has also adopted a "soft Hindutva" strategy, promising Rs 18,000 monthly compensation to temple priests and gurdwara granthis to counter the BJP's "Chunavi Hindu" critique.

The BJP, buoyed by its clean sweep in the Delhi Lok Sabha elections and strong performances in Haryana and Maharashtra, is mounting an aggressive campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched a scathing attack on the AAP, labeling it a "disaster" and urging voters to "eliminate the threat" by voting BJP to power. The BJP has also focused on allegations of corruption, including the renovation of the Chief Minister's bungalow, dubbed 'Sheeshmahal,' and arrests of key AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, in corruption cases.

Congress Yet to Gain Momentum

While the AAP and BJP have intensified their campaigns, the Congress appears to lag behind. The party made its presence felt with the launch of the 'Pyari Didi Yojana,' a welfare scheme announced by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, which promises Rs 2,500 monthly support for eligible women. This is seen as a counter to the AAP’s Mahila Samaan Yojana, which offers Rs 2,100 per month.

As the date approaches, the campaign across the capital is gaining momentum, with all three major parties locked in a fierce battle for dominance in Delhi’s high-stakes election.