Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: Key takeaways from EC's press conference

Voting for the Delhi Assembly Elections will be held in a single phase on February 5, and the counting is scheduled for February 8, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Tuesday.

The last date to file nominations is January 17 and the scrutiny of nominations will be done by January 18.

Candidates will be able to withdraw their nominations till January 20.

"It is a single-phase election… We have deliberately kept polling on a Wednesday so more people come out to vote… like we did in Maharashtra," Kumar said at a press conference.

Bypolls to two assembly constituencies -- Milkipur in Uttar Pradesh and Erode in Tamil Nadu -- will also be held on February 5.

Ahead of announcing the dates for poll, the CEC made note of all the allegations that were made against the voting process, dismissing them as "baseless".

Track live updates from the EC presser here

"EVMs are commissioned only seven to eight days before polling day and candidates are kept informed through their agents at every step. Courts have ruled on 42 occasions that EVMs are not hackable... allegations of tampering with the machines are totally baseless," Kumar said addressing a press conference.

The CEC reiterated that it is impossible to change voter turnout data and a misconceived narrative is being spread about an increase in voting after 5 pm.

"Disclosure is our main pillar, detailed guidelines and datasets are available on our website," he said.

Answering all the questions raised on the authenticity of the election process, the CEC stated that the right to question is an inherent right in democracy and they respect it. "Sab sawaal ahmiyat rakhte hai jawaab to banta hai," said CEC using ‘shayari’ or Urdu poetry.

Starting the presser on a positive note, Rajiv Kumar said that India will soon create a new record of one billion-plus voters.

Kumar noted that 2024 was the year of elections globally when two-third of the world's population in democracies voted in different polls.

"We also had elections in eight states and UTs. There was a good atmosphere, new records were set in the Lok Sabha elections in terms of voting percentage, people's participation, women's participation...," the chief election commissioner (CEC) said.

"Electoral rolls were released yesterday. We are crossing 99 crore voters... We are going to be a nation of one billion voters very soon, which will be another record in voting," Kumar added.

(With PTI inputs)