Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 are on Feb 5th. Public holiday declared. Security heightened with paramilitary forces deployment. Exit polls prohibited. Vote counting on Feb 8th.
The Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 are scheduled for Wednesday, February 5th. In preparation for the elections, the government of Delhi has declared a public holiday for all government offices, local and autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings under its jurisdiction. This holiday will enable registered voters in Delhi to exercise their right to vote.
Security Measures
Extensive security arrangements have been put in place to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections. More than 150 companies of paramilitary forces and over 30,000 Delhi Police personnel will be deployed across the city. According to Special CP (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastava, pre-poll arrangements have been made, and there have been significant seizures of drugs, liquor, and cash. Approximately 3,000 polling booths have been identified as sensitive, and drones will be used at some of these locations.
Additional police force and Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) will be deployed at sensitive booths to maintain law and order. Delhi Police held an inter-state coordination meeting with law enforcement agencies from neighboring states, including Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and others. The meeting aimed to strengthen anti-terror measures, border checks, and verification of suspicious individuals. Delhi Police has requested over 150 paramilitary companies and cyber-specialised officers to maintain vigilance.
Model Code of Conduct Violations
Ahead of the elections, over 1,000 cases of alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) have been registered between January 7 and February 2. A total of 33,434 people have been arrested under various legal provisions, including the Excise Act. Law enforcement agencies have intensified vigilance at border checkpoints and cracked down on illegal activities. The police have confiscated 462 illegal firearms, 510 cartridges, and arrested 482 people under the Arms Act. Additionally, 1,08,258 liters of liquor, 196.602 kg of drugs worth over Rs 77.9 crore, and over 1,200 banned injections have been seized.
Authorities have also confiscated Rs 11.23 crore in cash and 37.39 kg of silver. All district DCPs and senior officials have been briefed on poll preparations. Police teams are engaging in various activities, such as installing police selfie points and encouraging voter participation. Day and night patrolling has been intensified, and flag marches are being conducted with paramilitary forces.
Election Commission Directives
The Election Commission has prohibited the conduct, publication, or publicizing of exit polls between 7 am and 6:30 pm on February 5. This measure is in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Furthermore, displaying any election-related content, including opinion poll results, on electronic media is banned during the 48-hour period leading up to the conclusion of voting. These restrictions also apply to bypolls in Uttar Pradesh’s Milkipur constituency and Tamil Nadu’s Erode (East) seat.
Political parties have intensified their campaigns, with a three-way contest expected between the BJP, Congress, and AAP. Vote counting is scheduled for February 8.
Sources: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/delhi-polls-haryana-declares-paid-holiday-on-feb-5-101738522831838.html
https://www.indiatvnews.com/delhi/delhi-assembly-elections-2025-government-declares-public-holiday-on-february-5-aap-bjp-congress-kejriwal-latest-updates-2025-02-03-974441
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/delhi-polls-election-commission-prohibits-exit-polls-on-voting-day/articleshow/117878441.cms