Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference, in New Delhi, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Kejriwal announced that Resident Welfare Associations will be given money to hire private guards for security if AAP returns to power in Delhi. (Photo:PTI)
3 min read Last Updated : Jan 15 2025 | 7:06 PM IST
AAP replaces candidates for Narela, Hari Nagar seats days before polls
With just weeks to go for the Delhi assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday changed its candidates for Hari Nagar and Narela constituencies. The party replaced the outgoing Hari Nagar MLA Rajkumari Dhillon, who was fielded again by the party from the seat, with Surinder Setia. Dinesh Bharadwaj, fielded from Narela, was replaced by Sharad Chauhan. The changes came almost a month after the AAP announced its candidates for all 70 assembly seats in Delhi. The AAP shared the revised list of candidates from its X handle. Chauhan, a two-time AAP MLA from Narela, was dropped this time and Bhardwaj was named in the first list of candidates announced in December last year. Sources in the party claimed that the candidates were changed based on the ground reports from Narela and Hari Nagar seats. Chauhan, in a post on X, expressed gratitude towards the AAP's top leadership over the confidence they showed in him again. The elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly are going to take place on February 5. Results will be declared after the counting of votes on February 8.
4:50 PM
Delhi voters should cast their votes after careful consideration, says Mayawati
"In this election, Congress, BJP, and the Aam Aadmi Party are once again contesting by making numerous enticing promises or guarantees to the public, even though these parties have failed to fulfil their electoral promises while being in power several times," Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said. "Whereas, in matters of public welfare, it is the BSP that truly ensures the safety and well-being of all sections of society, and everyone knows this. Therefore, in the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, all voters should cast their votes after careful consideration," she added.
4:40 PM
Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia should have apologised to the people of Delhi, says Alka Lamba
"Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and the whole AAP have been badly stuck in the liquor scam. They had to go to jail for corruption, they got bail but their hands were tied and they lost their chairs (posts), those restrictions are still there. If they cared about the people of Delhi, they would have apologised," claimed Congress leader Alka Lamba.
4:19 PM
BJP leader Satish Upadhyay files nomination from Malviya Nagar seat
BJP candidate Satish Upadhyay on Wednesday filed his nomination papers from the Malviya Nagar Assembly seat for the Delhi Elections. "My biggest strength is each and every worker of my party. I want to thank the top leadership of the party for giving this big responsibility to an ordinary worker like me," Upadhyay said.
3:45 PM
Delhi court rejects bail plea of AAP lawmaker Naresh Balyan in MCOCA case
The legislator is in judicial custody after his arrest on December 4 in an MCOCA case linked to gangster Kapila Sangwan.
3:42 PM
Delhi elections updates: AAP releases revised list of candidates
-Sharad Chauhan to contest from Narela.
-Surinder Setia fielded from Hari Nagar.
3:24 PM
AAP-da will end on February 5, says Union minister Hardeep Puri on Delhi polls
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday expressed confidence over his party's victory in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections saying, 'AAP-da' will end on February 5 and BJP will have success. Puri said, "On February 5, 'AAP-da' will end and BJP will have success in Delhi, our candidate Ramesh Bidhuri will win. There is an anti-incumbency wave."
3:06 PM
Manish Sisodia visits temple, holds roadshow before filing nomination from Jangpur
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia sought blessings at the Angoori Mata Mandir in Kilokri before filing his nomination for the Jangpura Assembly seat.
2:58 PM
Delhi elections update: BJP has no vision, no leadership, says Sunita Kejriwal
2:45 PM
Delhi Assembly election update: Arvind Kejriwal files nomination from New Delhi seat
Aam Aadmi Party Chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed his nomination from the New Delhi seat for the Delhi Assembly elections.
Kejriwal is in the electoral fray against BJP candidate Parvesh Verma and Congress' Sandeep Dikshit.
2:39 PM
Delhi Assembly Elections: Beaming with pride, Pakistani Hindu refugees to cast their first vote
Pakistani Hindu refugees, granted Indian citizenship through CAA, will cast their vote for the first time in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
2:15 PM
Delhi Assembly elections: Who are the swing voters?
Approximately 30 per cent of upper-caste voters in Delhi are considered swing voters. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 75 per cent of their votes, which dropped to 54 per cent in the 2020 Vidhan Sabha elections. Congress's support among upper-caste voters fell from 12 per cent in 2019 to 3 per cent in 2020, while AAP's support rose from 13 per cent in 2019 to 41 per cent in 2020. A CSDS post-poll survey for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections indicated that 29 per cent of AAP’s upper-caste voters shifted to the BJP (18 per cent) and Congress (12 per cent).
Among OBC voters, roughly 25-30 per cent are also swing voters. In 2019, the BJP garnered 64 per cent of OBC support, which decreased to 50 per cent in the 2020 Vidhan Sabha elections. Congress's share fell from 18 per cent in 2019 to 2 per cent in 2020, while AAP's support increased from 18 per cent to 49 per cent during the same period. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw 29 per cent of AAP’s OBC voters switching allegiance to the BJP (8 per cent) and Congress (17 per cent), as per the same post-poll survey.
1:59 PM
AAP stronger than Congress in Delhi, we have decided to stand with them: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
"The regional party fighting against the BJP should be supported by the leaders of the INDIA alliance. AAP and Congress are fighting against each other in Delhi. AAP is strong and we have decided to stand with them. The question is about Delhi and our goal is that the BJP gets defeated. Congress and AAP have the same goal too," Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said.
1:55 PM
"Why should we help BJP?": TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has extended its support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming Delhi elections. TMC General Secretary and MP, Abhishek Banerjee said, "When the INDIA alliance was formed, we decided that wherever the regional parties are strong, let them take the fight against BJP. For example DMK in Tamil Nadu, JMM in Jharkhand. So in Delhi, who do you think can beat the BJP? It's AAP. So why shall I not support the party that can defeat the BJP? Ultimately that's the cause. Why shall we help the BJP by not supporting AAP?"
1:31 PM
Consider plea over duplicate entries in voter list: Delhi HC to EC
The Delhi High Court has asked the Election Commission to consider at an appropriate stage a plea raising concerns over alleged duplication of names in the capital's voter list and adopt such technological tools that would assist it in eliminating such duplication. As the petitioner's counsel remarked that the Delhi assembly elections would be over by the time the Commission would consider his plea, a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru said, "before every election these matters come."
With just weeks to go for the Delhi assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday changed its candidates for Hari Nagar and Narela constituencies. The party replaced the outgoing Hari Nagar MLA Rajkumari Dhillon, who was fielded again by the party from the seat, with Surinder Setia. Dinesh Bharadwaj, fielded from Narela, was replaced by Sharad Chauhan. The changes came almost a month after the AAP announced its candidates for all 70 assembly seats in Delhi. The AAP shared the revised list of candidates from its X handle. Chauhan, a two-time AAP MLA from Narela, was dropped this time and Bhardwaj was named in the first list of candidates announced in December last year. Sources in the party claimed that the candidates were changed based on the ground reports from Narela and Hari Nagar seats. Chauhan, in a post on X, expressed gratitude towards the AAP's top leadership over the confidence they showed in him again. The elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly are going to take place on February 5. Results will be declared after the counting of votes on February 8.
After dominating Delhi politics with landslide victories in 2015 and 2020, the AAP faces a crucial test as the BJP mounts an aggressive campaign to return to power. The BJP, which hasn't held power in Delhi for nearly 30 years, is pulling out all the stops with Prime Minister Modi leading the charge against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. While the BJP aims to end its 27-year absence from Delhi's government, the AAP remains optimistic about winning a third straight term and maintaining its grip on the capital. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has been under scrutiny after an FIR was filed against her for allegedly violating the model code of conduct ahead of the Assembly elections. The complaint accuses Atishi of using a government vehicle for personal and election-related purposes. Atishi has been renominated by AAP to contest from the high-profile constituency. The BJP, in turn, has fielded veteran leader and former MP Ramesh Bidhuri, making the Kalkaji race one of the most anticipated battles this election season.
The case surfaced when a Public Works Department (PWD) vehicle was allegedly seen delivering election campaign materials to an AAP office after the election announcement on January 7. This incident is being interpreted as a misuse of government resources for political advantage. The Congress has declared a total of 63 candidates for the elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly. The Congress, earlier this month, released a single-name list, fielding Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba from Kalkaji to take on Chief Minister Atishi.
On December 24, the party released its second list of 26 candidates. The party had released its first list of 21 candidates earlier in December, fielding ex-MP Sandeep Dikshit from New Delhi, setting up a contest between him and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
 "Delhi Elections 2025 updates: AAP replaces candidates for Narela, Hari Nagar seats days before polls")
