Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 | EC, AAP cross swords day before voting; Poll body says 'repeated pressure tactics' to malign it

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party and the Election Commission crossed swords on Tuesday, a day ahead of polling in Delhi, with the poll body taking note of the "repeated pressure tactics" to malign it, saying it is functioning within the established legal framework and ensuring fair play and non-partisan conduct.

The EC's remarks came after AAP claimed that democracy in India was now in the hands of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and the country is watching "if it survives in the national capital".

At a press conference, senior AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi alleged that the Election Commission and Delhi Police are shielding the BJP workers who are indulging in "hooliganism". 

"The BJP is openly engaging in hooliganism. But instead of taking action against them, Delhi Police is protecting them, while the Election Commission is filing cases against those who are raising complaints," she said.

The EC said in a post, "the three-member Commission collectively noted repeated deliberate pressure tactics to malign the ECI in Delhi Elections, as if it is a single member body and decided to have Constitutional restraint, absorbing such outbursts with sagacity, stoically and not to be swayed by such insinuations."

"Action on issues raised by political parties and candidates are taken in each instance by over 1.5 lakh officials in Delhi Assembly election, who are functioning within established legal framework, robust processes and SoPs ensuring fair play and non partisan conduct," it said.

Later in the day, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi met the Election Commission with complaints.

"After meeting the AAP delegation, ECI reiterates that all election officials should continue to work impartially and any partisan conduct disturbing the level playing field will be unpardonable," the EC said.

Separately, a petition endorsed by around 700 citizens was sent to the Election Commission, urging it to take appropriate measures to ensure transparency in the election.

It asked the EC to publish on its website Form 17C (Part I), Form 17C (Part II), Form 20, the final result sheet and information on the number of slips issued to electors standing in queue at the closing hour of the poll.

The signatories included transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, former AmbassadorAshok Sharma and former CIC Wajahat Habibullah among others.

Delhi Assembly Election 2025 | The first of two state assembly polls this year sees a three-way contest between AAP, Congress, and BJP in the nation's capital. AAP decided to contest the polls alone, causing rumours of a rift in I.N.D.I.A. BJP, meanwhile, is hoping the liquor excise policy scam and pollution in Delhi will give the saffron party an edge over AAP. Kejriwal, on the other hand, has different plans with his demand for reservations for Delhi Jats. Congress will also be looking to make its presence felt and has not held back from attacking its own alliance partner. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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