New Delhi:

A team of Delhi Police and Election Commission officials entered Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s city residence Thursday evening to investigate “a complaint of money distribution”.

This comes less than a week before the Delhi Assembly election.

Sources said the cops and poll officers – held outside Kapurthala House, near Connaught Place in central Delhi for nearly 90 minutes before being allowed inside – were video-recording their search.

Earlier, visuals from outside the building showed uniformed security personnel, with assault rifles, outside the main gate. Shortly afterwards the Returning Officer for the New Delhi constituency, OP Pandey, said a complaint had been received – on its cVIGIL mobile app – about money distribution.

“We have to dispose of the complaint within 100 minutes. Our team had come (but) was not allowed to enter. I have come to request them to let us enter… with a cameraperson,” he said.

#WATCH | Delhi | A team of Delhi Police officials are present outside Kapurthala House, where a team of Delhi election officials are present following a complaint about cash distribution was received on cVIGIL app

Delhi Police says, “On a complaint by RO (Returning Officer) and… pic.twitter.com/kuOxmqHNRN

— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2025

Furious AAP Responds

Responding on X, Mr Mann accused the Delhi Police and Election Commission of “defaming Punjabis at the behest of the BJP”. “Today, an Election Commission team with Delhi Police came to raid my house… Kapurthala House in Delhi. BJP people are openly distributing money in Delhi, but Delhi Police and Election Commission are not seeing anything. No action is being taken on all this.”

AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal has also reacted, telling reporters, “I don’t understand this… it is BJP leaders who are distributing cash and other items, but the raid is being conducted on Punjab Chief Minister…”

Chief Minister Atishi also, in response to the search over alleged ‘cash-for-votes’, alleged numerous similar violations by the BJP had been ignored by the Election Commission.

दिल्ली पुलिस @BhagwantMann जी के दिल्ली के घर पर रेड करने पहुँच गई है।

भाजपा वाले दिन दहाड़े पैसे, जूते, चद्दर बांट रहे हैं- वो नहीं दिखता। बल्कि एक चुने हुए मुख्यमंत्री के निवास पर रेड करने पहुँच जाते हैं।

वाह री भाजपा! दिल्ली वाले 5 तारीख़ को जवाब देंगे!

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 30, 2025

She referred to a letter, sent to the poll body this morning, claiming distribution of money and liquor, in large quantities, in her constituency, i.e., Kalkaji. She also claimed a resident had been “threatened with dire consequences (by) people carrying guns… and seen roaming with a Delhi Police constable”.

“BJP people distribute money, shoes… in broad daylight. That is not visible. Instead, they raid the residence of an elected Chief Minister,” she raged online after cops turned up at Mr Mann’s home.”

“Wow BJP! Delhi will give its answer on the 5th.”

‘Punjab Government’ Car?

The exact nature of the complaint is not known at this time, but there are reports that indicate it stems from last night’s seizure of a car parked outside Punjab Bhavan on Copernicus Marg.

Sources told NDTV around Rs 8 lakh in cash, liquor, and AAP pamphlets were found in the car, which also had a ‘Government of Punjab’ sticker on it. The Punjab government said the car is not theirs.

READ | ‘Punjab Sarkar’ Car With Cash, Liquor Seized, State Responds

It was pointed out the number plate of the seized vehicle matched a Ford Eco Sport used by the state, but the vehicle in police custody now is a Hyundai Creta. Delhi Police have registered a case.

Delhi Election 2025

The national capital’s 70 Assembly seats vote in a single phase on February 5.

The results will be declared three days later. The AAP is bidding for a hat-trick of wins after dominant shows in the 2015 and 2020 polls, when they swept 67 and 62 seats, respectively.

READ | Poll Panel Raps Kejriwal In “Yamuna Poisoned” Row, He Hits Back

This time, though, a much closer contest is expected, with the ruling party and the opposition BJP squabbling over a number of issues, including allegations by the former that the latter’s government in neighbouring Haryana had “poisoned” Yamuna River water it sends to Delhi.

With input from agencies

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

New Delhi:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s broadside on Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday – naming the former Delhi Chief Minister as the “architect of the liquor scam” and raking up the ‘sheeshmahal‘ jab, a staple of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s attacks – underlined the chasm between his party and the Aam Aadmi Party, both of which remain (on paper, if nothing else), part of the INDIA opposition bloc and national allies.

Addressing a rally in Delhi’s Patparganj, before the city votes next week in an election that could, potentially, enhance or break Arvind Kejriwal’s political reputation, Mr Gandhi took aim both at the AAP leader and his right-hand man, ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, both of whom had been arrested, and jailed, by the Enforcement Directorate on corruption charges.

Both were released on bail, by the Supreme Court, late last year.

Mr Gandhi campaigning in Patparganj is significant because it is Mr Sisodia’s seat.

“… Kejriwal had a small car (the blue Maruti Wagon-R that the AAP leader reported stolen in October 2017) when he came, and he declared he will introduce a new kind of politics. He had climbed an electric poll and promised to transform Delhi…”

“But when the poor people of Delhi needed him, he was nowhere to be found. When there was violence in Delhi (referring to the riots of 2020) he was nowhere to be seen. He talked about ‘clean politics’ but the biggest liquor scam took place in Delhi,” Mr Gandhi raged.

And then the Congress leader weighed in with the ‘sheeshmahal‘ jab, comparing the BJP’s allegations – that the AAP spent Rs 45 crore to renovate the Delhi Chief Minister’s bungalow when Mr Kejriwal held the post – to his vacating his MP bungalow after he was suspended.

READ | ‘Sheeshmahal’ Showdown: AAP vs BJP Over Chief Minister Home

“I was thrown out of my house by (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji… and I handed them (the BJP) the keys and said you can keep it. But Kejriwalji stays in a ‘sheeshmahal‘.”

READ | Rahul Gandhi Vacates Delhi Bungalow He Held Since 2005

The AAP and Congress were expected to contest the Delhi election together, even after acrimony over failed seat-share talks for the Haryana election and the latter’s big defeat. Mr Gandhi, in fact, was perhaps the seniormost Congress leader to push to continue the alliance.

But within each party’s Delhi units there has long been unease and distrust of the other, dating back to a failed alliance after the 2013 election; the two joined hands to keep the BJP out of power, but fell apart two years into the term, leading to a mid-term election the AAP dominated.

Eventually, the weight of failed talks in Haryana and the squabbling that preceded sharing of the seven seats in Delhi for the April-June federal election (all of which the BJP won), took its toll and Mr Kejriwal and the Congress declared they would each contest separately.

Since then the attacks on each other have been fierce; the Congress, for example, has also targeted Mr Kejriwal over his allegations the BJP mixed “poison” in Yamuna water being supplied to the city by the saffron party-ruled Haryana government.

Delhi’s 70 Assembly seats will vote in a single phase on February 5, with results due three days later. The AAP thumped the BJP and the Congress in the last two polls, winning 67 and 62 seats.

This time it faces a much tougher challenge – from the BJP.

NDTV Exclusive | “Change Inevitable”: Amit Shah Attacks AAP

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP’s ultimate poll strategist, told NDTV his party is supremely confident of stopping a hat-trick of solo wins for Mr Kejriwal and the AAP.

New Delhi:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s broadside on Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday – naming the former Delhi Chief Minister as the “architect of the liquor scam” and raking up the ‘sheeshmahal‘ jab, a staple of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s attacks – underlined the chasm between his party and the Aam Aadmi Party, both of which remain (on paper, if nothing else), part of the INDIA opposition bloc and national allies.

Hitting back, Arvind Kejriwal said Mr Gandhi was repeating the BJP’s speech, suggesting there’s an agreement between the two parties. 

Addressing a rally in Delhi’s Patparganj, before the city votes next week in an election that could, potentially, enhance or break Arvind Kejriwal’s political reputation, Mr Gandhi took aim both at the AAP leader and his right-hand man, ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, both of whom had been arrested, and jailed, by the Enforcement Directorate on corruption charges.

Both were released on bail, by the Supreme Court, late last year.

“… Kejriwal had a small car (the blue Maruti Wagon-R that the AAP leader reported stolen in October 2017) when he came, and he declared he will introduce a new kind of politics. He had climbed an electric poll and promised to transform Delhi…”

“But when the poor people of Delhi needed him, he was nowhere to be found. When there was violence in Delhi (referring to the riots of 2020) he was nowhere to be seen. He talked about ‘clean politics’ but the biggest liquor scam took place in Delhi,” Mr Gandhi raged.

And then the Congress leader weighed in with the ‘sheeshmahal‘ jab, comparing the BJP’s allegations – that the AAP spent Rs 45 crore to renovate the Delhi Chief Minister’s bungalow when Mr Kejriwal held the post – to his vacating his MP bungalow after he was suspended.

READ | ‘Sheeshmahal’ Showdown: AAP vs BJP Over Chief Minister Home

“I was thrown out of my house by (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji… and I handed them (the BJP) the keys and said you can keep it. But Kejriwalji stays in a ‘sheeshmahal‘.”

READ | Rahul Gandhi Vacates Delhi Bungalow He Held Since 2005

Arvind Kejriwal, whose party has been in power since 2013, criticised Mr Gandhi for repeating BJP’s claims. 

“Today Rahul ji repeated the entire speech of the BJP in Delhi. Tell the public what agreement has been reached between the BJP and Congress?” asked Mr Kejriwal.

लोग पूछ रहे हैं राहुल गांधी जी “राजमहल” पर चुप क्यों है?

आज राहुल जी ने दिल्ली में पूरा बीजेपी वालों का भाषण दोहराया। जनता को बता दो कि बीजेपी और कांग्रेस में क्या समझौता हुआ है? https://t.co/nRUoLCy0FM

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 28, 2025

In another post, Mr Kejriwal said,” Modiji puts people in jail even by making fake cases like liquor scam. Why haven’t you and your family been arrested in open and shut cases like National Herald? How did Robert Vadra get a clean chit from BJP? It is better if you don’t preach on fear and bravery. The country knows who is a coward and who is brave.”

The AAP and Congress were expected to contest the Delhi election together, even after acrimony over failed seat-share talks for the Haryana election and the latter’s big defeat. Mr Gandhi, in fact, was perhaps the seniormost Congress leader to push to continue the alliance.

But within each party’s Delhi units there has long been unease and distrust of the other, dating back to a failed alliance after the 2013 election; the two joined hands to keep the BJP out of power, but fell apart two years into the term, leading to a mid-term election the AAP dominated.

Eventually, the weight of failed talks in Haryana and the squabbling that preceded sharing of the seven seats in Delhi for the April-June federal election (all of which the BJP won), took its toll and Mr Kejriwal and the Congress declared they would each contest separately.

Since then the attacks on each other have been fierce; the Congress, for example, has also targeted Mr Kejriwal over his allegations the BJP mixed “poison” in Yamuna water being supplied to the city by the saffron party-ruled Haryana government.

Delhi’s 70 Assembly seats will vote in a single phase on February 5, with results due three days later. The AAP thumped the BJP and the Congress in the last two polls, winning 67 and 62 seats.

This time it faces a much tougher challenge – from the BJP.

NDTV Exclusive | “Change Inevitable”: Amit Shah Attacks AAP

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP’s ultimate poll strategist, told NDTV his party is supremely confident of stopping a hat-trick of solo wins for Mr Kejriwal and the AAP.

New Delhi:

The Congress on Tuesday waded into a spat between the AAP and BJP – that the latter, through its Haryana government, had tried to put “poison” in the Yamuna and so contaminate Delhi’s water supply.

A Congress delegation met the Election Commission this afternoon to complain against both, demanding action the AAP if the claims are proven false and against the BJP if true.

This was after the AAP’s top leaders, including party boss Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, filed complaints of their own over ammonia levels in the Yamuna.

Mr Mann and other AAP leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also met poll body officials last night, after which the EC sought a “detailed report” from the Haryana government.

On Monday Mr Kejriwal declared the BJP had done “something that may never have been done in history”. “The people of Delhi get drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh… but the Haryana government has mixed poison in the water coming to Delhi from the Yamuna and sent it here…”

He claimed only vigilance by the Delhi Jal Board saved the city, and slammed the “attempt to create chaos… hoping blame will fall on AAP”. The DJB, however, did not play ball; it called the claims “false”.

READ | Row Over Kejriwal’s “Haryana Mixing Poison In Yamuna” Claim

The BJP too hit out; Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini said, “It is their nature and thinking to accuse and run away…” and Labour Minister Anil Vij called Mr Kejriwal “a factory of lies”.

Sources later said the Haryana government may take legal action.

The AAP and Mr Kejriwal, though, remain undaunted in making their “poisoned water” allegations. This morning the ruling party accused the BJP of “water terrorism”.

READ | Delhi Govt Repeats Water Poisoning Charge Against Haryana

“Ammonia levels continue to be six times above normal in the Yamuna… at the point it enters Delhi from Haryana. Such levels are extremely toxic… This water cannot be treated and supplied to the people of Delhi. Otherwise, their lives will be at risk,” the Chief Minister said.

“This is not an act of negligence; it is an act of water terrorism to deliberately impact the conduct of free and fair elections in Delhi,” she wrote in a letter to the Election Commission.

Mr Saini responded again, thundering, “For these blatantly false and disgusting statements, Arvind Kejriwal should immediately apologise to the people of Haryana and Delhi…”

The Congress has now taken up arms but, surprisingly, it isn’t (overtly) against the BJP. Instead, it seems to be attacking the AAP, a fellow INDIA opposition bloc member and an (on paper) ally.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, who is contesting the New Delhi Assembly seat against Mr Kejriwal (and Parvesh Verma of the BJP), said he was surprised by the lack of Haryana Police action against the AAP leader.

The debate around the cleanliness and potability of Yamuna water is of particular significance now, since these were assurances made by AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal before the 2020 Delhi election.

Neither promise, though, has been fulfilled, and Mr Kejriwal is aware of this issue.

READ | Arvind Kejriwal On 3 Delhi Promises He “Could Not Fulfil”

Last week he admitted to Delhi voters he had failed to ensure Yamuna water is both clean and drinkable, but insisted this will become a reality if his AAP is voted to a third consecutive term.

“I am truthful to my promises. Either I fulfil them, or I admit I promised but couldn’t do it. I could not fulfill three promises – cleaning the Yamuna, providing clean drinking water, and making Delhi’s roads of European standards,” Mr Kejriwal said at a rally in Delhi’s Laxmi Bai Nagar.

He repeated that admission – a tactic seen as trying to take the sting out of attacks by the BJP on this topic – this morning as he released another section of his party’s pre-poll manifesto.

Unfortunately for the AAP, Mr Kejriwal’s acknowledgement has not stopped the BJP’s attacks. Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a jab as he took a dip in the Ganga today during Maha Kumbh.

READ | “Take That World-Famous Dip”: Amit Shah’s Yamuna Dare To Kejriwal

“He [Mr Kejriwal] promised he would purify River Yamuna in seven years and modify it just like London’s River Thames,” Mr Shah said at a rally.

“He even said he would take a dip in the Yamuna in front of Delhiites. Arvind Kejriwal, the people of Delhi are waiting for your world-famous dip in the Yamuna. If not in Yamuna, he can go to the Mahakumbh and take a dip over there to get rid of his sins,” Mr Shah said.

According to a Delhi Pollution Control Committee report from October 2023, multiple projects to clean the river are running behind schedule. The report filed with the National Green Tribunal drew particular attention to delays by the Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi Development Authority.

This is not the first time a BJP leader has dared Mr Kejriwal to take a dip in the polluted stretch. Earlier, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused him of “turning the holy Yamuna into a dirty drain”.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

New Delhi:

The AAP and BJP continue to bicker as the clock ticks down to next week’s Delhi Assembly election, with ex-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal now accusing the latter of “mixing poison” in the city’s water supply, in an attempt to “create chaos… hoping the blame will fall” on his party’s administration.

Speaking to reporters Monday, he said the BJP had done “something that may never have been done in history”. He claimed the saffron party – in power in neighbouring Haryana – had added a poisonous substance to the Yamuna river that flows through that state and into the national capital.

“The people of Delhi get drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh… but the Haryana government has mixed poison in the water coming to Delhi from the Yamuna and sent it here… it is only due to the vigilance of our Delhi Jal Board engineers that this water was stopped.”

“It (the allegedly poisoned water) was stopped at the Delhi border… we did not allow it to enter the city. We have seen such things in wars but today, what the BJP did by mixing poison in Delhi’s water supply, is an attempt to create chaos in Delhi, hoping blame will fall on the AAP.”

Delhi: AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal says, “In the upcoming elections in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has done something that may never have been done in history. The people of Delhi get drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The Haryana government,… pic.twitter.com/vswQA87M7h

— IANS (@ians_india) January 27, 2025

According to reports, the “poison” Mr Kejriwal was referring to is ammonia.

High ammonia levels in the Yamuna has been a problem as the Delhi government scrambles to ensure round-the-clock, and clean, water supply for the city’s residents; by some accounts the capital needs over 3,000 million litres of water per day, whereas the usual supply is only about 2,000 MLD.

The shortfall has been exacerbated by high ammonia levels, the AAP has claimed.

BJP Slams “Baseless” Charges

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has denied Mr Kejriwal’s claim. “It is their nature and thinking to accuse and run away…” he said at an event in Chandigarh.

Chandigarh: Regarding Aam Aadmi Party’s allegations that Haryana is supplying toxic water to Delhi, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, “It is their nature and thinking to accuse and run away…” pic.twitter.com/JO3L8juyvk

— IANS (@ians_india) January 27, 2025

Mr Saini’s rebuttal was backed, more forcefully, by Labour Minister Anil Vij. “Arvind Kejriwal is a factory of lies… take journalists and experts to the place where the Yamuna enters Delhi and check the quality of water. Then check in Delhi… they will see the difference,” he said.

#WATCH | Chandigarh: Haryana Minister Anil Vij says, “Arvind Kejriwal is a factory of lies… Take all journalists and analysts to the place where Yamuna enters Delhi and check the quality of water, and then check the quality of water in Delhi. They will see the difference. Its… pic.twitter.com/bJiJtaPLXj

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025

“It is not our job to check clean the river in Delhi… it was Kejriwal’s, which he couldn’t do.”

Election Commission Wants Report

Meanwhile, AAP leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and her Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, met the Election Commission earlier today to make this complaint. The poll body sought a detailed report from the Haryana government by noon tomorrow, i.e., January 28.

The debate around the cleanliness and potability of Yamuna water is of particular significance now, since these were assurances made by AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal before the 2020 Delhi election.

Neither promise, though, has been fulfilled, and Mr Kejriwal is aware of this issue.

READ | Arvind Kejriwal On 3 Delhi Promises He “Could Not Fulfil”

Last week he admitted to Delhi voters he had failed to ensure Yamuna water is both clean and drinkable, but insisted this will become a reality if his AAP is voted to a third consecutive term.

“I am truthful to my promises. Either I fulfil them or I admit I promised but couldn’t do it. I could not fulfill three promises – cleaning the Yamuna, providing clean drinking water, and making Delhi’s roads of European standards,” Mr Kejriwal said at a rally in Delhi’s Laxmi Bai Nagar.

He repeated that admission – a tactic seen as trying to take the sting out of attacks by the BJP on this topic – this morning as he released another section of his party’s pre-poll manifesto.

BJP Targets Kejriwal Over Yamuna

Unfortunately for the AAP, Mr Kejriwal’s acknowledgement has not stopped the BJP’s attacks. Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a jab as he took a dip in the Ganga today during Maha Kumbh.

READ | “Take That World-Famous Dip”: Amit Shah’s Yamuna Dare To Kejriwal

“He [Mr Kejriwal] promised he would purify River Yamuna in seven years and modify it just like London’s River Thames,” Mr Shah said at a rally.

#WATCH | #DelhiElections2025 | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “He promised he would purify the Yamuna River in 7 years and modify it just like London’s Thames River… He even said he would take a dip in the Yamuna in front of Delhiites. Arvind Kejriwal, the people of Delhi… pic.twitter.com/44rsVKJy5m

— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2025

“He even said he would take a dip in the Yamuna in front of Delhiites. Arvind Kejriwal, the people of Delhi are waiting for your world-famous dip in the Yamuna. If not in Yamuna, he can go to the Mahakumbh and take a dip over there to get rid of his sins,” Mr Shah said.

According to a Delhi Pollution Control Committee report from October 2023, multiple projects to clean the river are running behind schedule. The report filed with the National Green Tribunal drew particular attention to delays by the Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi Development Authority.

This is not the first time a BJP leader has dared Mr Kejriwal to take a dip in the polluted stretch. Earlier, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused him of “turning the holy Yamuna into a dirty drain”.

With input from agencies

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

New Delhi:

Shortly after former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed the Election Commission has removed Punjab Police and deployed Gujarat Police in the National Capital Territory, top sources in Delhi Police have provided a clarification.

The sources said 220 companies of security personnel were received in Delhi, including those from the CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CISF and RPF. Further, 70 companies were also deployed from Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh Police. These companies were received in Delhi in three phases, which included the deployment of seven to eight companies of Gujarat Police.

Sources clarified that the deployment came after 250 companies were demanded to maintain law and order as the February 5 Assembly polls near. These companies will conduct tasks like flying squads, interstate border checking, area domination, and security at critical polling stations. Further, they will also serve at counting centres and as quick response teams.

A response was awaited from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Police, with farmers’ protest ongoing in the first two states, while the Maha Kumbh is ongoing in Prayagraj, the sources said.

Mr Kejriwal raised questions on the deployment of eight companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) from Gujarat. The SRPF companies reached Delhi on January 13 as per the order of the Election Commission (EC), Commandant SRPF, Bhachau, Tejas Patel said on Saturday.

Punjab’s Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the state police component deployed for Kejriwal’s security was withdrawn following directions from the Delhi Police and the Election Commission.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, meanwhile, hit back at Kejriwal over his lack of awareness regarding the poll body’s norms. “Now I understand why people call you a fraud. Kejriwal ji, as a former Chief Minister, I’m surprised you’re not aware of the Election Commission’s norms,” Sanghavi stated in his post.

“They’ve requested forces from various states, not just Gujarat. In fact, the Election Commission of India has ordered SRP deployment from various states, a routine procedure. As per their request, 8 companies of SRP from Gujarat were sent to Delhi for the scheduled election on 11/1/25. Why the selective mention of Gujarat, Kejriwal ji?” he added.

Polling for all 70 assembly seats in Delhi will be held on February 5 and the votes will be counted on February 8.

New Delhi:

The Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party went head-to-head Friday with the Delhi Assembly election less than two weeks away. The clash, though, wasn’t over public infrastructure, education, health services, or cost of living in the national capital; it was over the Punjab Police withdrawing additional security cover for AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal.

The police force from the neighbouring state – which is also ruled by the AAP – had been providing the ex-Chief Minister with a security detail, in addition to that from Delhi Police.

But it withdrawn last night after Delhi cops complained to the Election Commission. “Following directions from Delhi Police and Election Commission, we have withdrawn…” Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav said, adding details of any threats would be shared with his Delhi counterparts.

Arvind Kejriwal is assigned a Z+ protection detail, which consists of 63 security officers, including a pilot, escort teams, an inner ring of guards, and search-and-frisk units. In addition, 15 uniformed personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces, or the CAPF, are deployed for his protection.

The Punjab Police’s escort was over and above this security detail.

AAP vs BJP On Punjab Cops’ Security

All of this has led to a furious spat between the two parties. The BJP has accused the AAP of “making an issue out of nothing” and has asked, “Are Delhi cops incapable of providing security?”

The AAP, meanwhile, has accused the BJP – which controls the Union Home Ministry, to which office the Delhi Police answer – of having “forcibly removed” Arvind Kejriwal’s security.

Mr Kejriwal, the party has pointed out, has faced four ‘attacks’ in as many months, including one in Delhi’s Hari Nagar neighbourhood just hours after the Punjab Police escort was removed.

शर्मनाक!

अमित शाह जी के इशारों पर @DelhiPolice ने आज जबरन @ArvindKejriwal जी की पंजाब पुलिस सुरक्षा हटवा दी।

और उसी दिन हरिनगर में भाजपा के गुंडों ने केजरीवाल जी पर हमला कर दिया।

क्या मोदी-शाह केजरीवाल जी की जान से खिलवाड़ करना चाहते हैं?

चुनाव आयोग कब तक मूकदर्शक बना रहेगा?…

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 23, 2025

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi issued a fierce statement on X, accusing the BJP and its two senior-most leaders – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah – of “playing with the life” of her party leader. She also slammed the EC for being a “mute spectator”.

“Shameful. On the instructions of Amit Shah, Delhi Police today forcibly removed Arvind Kejriwal’s Punjab Police security. And, on the same day, Kejriwal was attacked by BJP goons in Hari Nagar…”

“Do Modi-Shah want to play with Kejriwal’s life? How long will the Election Commission remain silent… on repeated attacks on a leader of a national party,” she asked.

Mr Kejriwal had earlier posted about the alleged attack; on X he said, “Today, in Hari Nagar, the police allowed some opposition candidate’s men to enter my public meeting and attack my car.”

आज हरि नगर में विपक्षी उम्मीदवार के लोगों को पुलिस ने मेरी जनसभा में घुसने दिया और फिर मेरी गाड़ी पर हमला करवाया। ये सब अमित शाह जी के आदेश पर हो रहा है। अमित शाह जी ने दिल्ली पुलिस को बीजेपी की निजी आर्मी बना दिया है।

चुनाव आयोग पर बड़े सवाल उठ रहे हैं कि एक राष्ट्रीय पार्टी…

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 23, 2025

He too blamed Mr Shah and the Election Commission, for remaining silent.

BJP’s Parvesh Verma Hits Back

The ‘attack’ claims were swiftly contested by the BJP, with Parvesh Verma, the man tasked with defeating Mr Kejriwal in his New Delhi Assembly constituency stronghold, leading the way.

In his X post, Mr Verma laughed off the claim as “drama” and declared the AAP leader would next print posters with the heading ‘mujhe kyon mara‘, or ‘why attack me’, for sympathy votes.

.@ArvindKejriwal जल्द ही ‘हमला हुआ’ ड्रामा लेकर आएंगे, फिर पोस्टर छपेंगे – ‘मुझे क्यों मारा?’। चुनाव नजदीक हैं, भाई साहब स्क्रिप्ट लिख रहे हैं!

— Parvesh Sahib Singh (@p_sahibsingh) January 23, 2025

The row over Punjab Police’s protective detail for Mr Kejriwal had been broken by Mr Verma.

Earlier this week he, and Sandeep Dikshit, the Congress’ candidate against Mr Kejriwal, seemed to unite in attacking the AAP over the influx of vehicles from Punjab into Delhi, many of which, they claimed, carried Punjab cops campaigning on behalf of AAP candidates, which is illegal.

READ | Before Poll, Row Over VIPs Prompts AAP vs BJP, Congress Squabble

The AAP issued an angry response to that claim, declaring Mr Verma, accused of making incendiary comments in the past, had “insulted” the Punjabi community and demanded his apology.

Multiple legal notices have also been filed against Mr Verma, who retaliated by filing one of his own – a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against the AAP and Mr Kejriwal.

Delhi vs Punjab Police?

The bickering followed an exchange of letters between the Delhi and Punjab police forces.

The Delhi cops asked to be informed about the movement of AAP leaders from Punjab when they came to the national capital, stating VIPs had not followed the necessary protocols, including sharing route details and the numbers of on-duty Punjabi police personnel operating in the city.

Punjab Police responded with a direction to ministers in its state, requesting them to follow guidelines laid down by the Election Commission and provide details to the Delhi cops.

2025 Delhi Assembly Election

The Delhi Assembly election will be held on February 5. Results for the city’s 70 seats will be announced three days later – on February 8 – with the AAP hoping for a landmark third successive victory and the BJP eager to break Mr Kejriwal’s hold on the national capital.

The AAP cruised to victory in the 2015 and 2020 elections, winning 67 and 62 seats respectively.

With input from agencies

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New Delhi:

As the clock ticks down to February 5 – the date of voting for the Delhi Assembly election – the Aam Aadmi Party, the Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party are scrambling for favour among women, a cross-section of voters the country’s political parties seems to have woken up to in recent polls.

The results of some of those recent polls – Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh in particular, in each of which the BJP scored dominant wins on the back of women-centric welfare schemes and financial freebies – underscores the importance of women voters to winning elections.

And over 46 per cent – around 71 lakh – of Delhi’s registered voters are women, with more signing up daily, according to the national capital’s Chief Electoral Officer. Last week the city’s top poll official also said more women were registering to vote, ahead of this election, than men.

All three main parties in the 2025 race in Delhi seem to have recognised this.

Each has announced women-specific schemes and sops; the AAP said it would give women Rs 2,100 every month, after which the BJP and Congress upped it to Rs 2,500. All three have also made other promises, from cash assistance to pregnant women and free travel for women in state-run buses.

AAP’s Poll Special For Women

The ruling party kicked things off last month.

AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal, forced to quit as Chief Minister while he battles corruption charges, said his party would give Rs 2,100 to Delhi women as direct cash transfers every month, if they voted for him.

“I have come to make two big announcements… both are for women. I had earlier promised to give Rs 1,000 to every woman… This is for empowering women and addressing their financial need…”

READ | AAP’s Poll Offer: 1,000 A Month For Delhi Women, 2,100 If It Wins

Mr Kejriwal – whose government already has a Rs 1,000 per month scheme for women – has also promised to continue and expand the flagship ‘free travel for women (in state-run buses)’ scheme.

This will now include female students and the promise of a 50 per cent concession on Metro fares.

Congress Announces ‘Pyari Didi‘ Scheme

The Congress, not to be outdone, said it would transfer Rs 2,500 per month to women, in addition to ensuring a ‘ration kit’ – with rice, sugar, cooking oil, grains, and tea leaves – to be provided to women every month to offset the price rise.

READ | Congress’ ‘Pyari Didi‘ Scheme Vows Rs 2,500 Monthly For Women

The party announced a similar scheme before the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election; the Rs 2,000-a-month ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme has been credited with a key role in helping it win that poll.

BJP’s Pregnant Women Outreach

The BJP, meanwhile, is hoping that attention to pregnant women will pay dividends.

Party boss JP Nadda, announcing the manifesto on Friday, promised pregnant women a one-time payment of Rs 21,000 in addition Rs 5,000 for the first child and Rs 6,000 for the second.

READ | In BJP’s Delhi Manifesto, Rs 21,000 Aid For Pregnant Women

He also announced a scheme that will pay women Rs 2,500 per month.

‘In First Cabinet Meeting’

All of these promises will be implemented, each party has vowed, in the very first cabinet meeting after the new government is formed. And these promises, election analysts have told NDTV, could be one very real reason behind women rushing to register to vote next month. And where those votes will land could, in a very real sense, decide the outcome of the 2025 Delhi Assembly election.

The reception to these overtures has been mixed, with most welcoming the initiatives (regardless of the party making the assurance) and some questioning the sustainability and long-term impact.

Many have pointed out that even a small sum like Rs 2,500 will be gratefully received by women from poorer sections of society, particularly those without any other income and those struggling with the rising cost of food. Others have warned that simply handing over wads of cash will hide other problems women face, including (and perhaps most importantly) safety in public spaces.

Delhi Election Dates

Women (and men and voters who don’t identify as either) will head to the polling booths on February 5, a Wednesday. Votes will be counted three days later – on February 8.

Delhi has 70 Assembly seats, a staggering 62 of which plumped for the AAP in 2020.

The AAP dominated the 2015 poll also, winning 67 seats.

With input from PTI

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain filed his nomination papers from the Mustafabad constituency on Thursday (January 16, 2025) and returned to Tihar Jail
| Photo Credit: PTI

Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain filed his nomination papers from the Mustafabad constituency on Thursday (January 16, 2025) and returned to Tihar Jail, officials said.

The former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor is the candidate of Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) from Mustafabad for the February 5 assembly polls.

Mr. Hussain filed his nomination and returned to custody at 2:16 PM after leaving Tihar Jail earlier in the day to complete the process, a source said.

“He was released from jail under heavy security provided by Delhi Police. He left the jail around 9:15 a.m.,” the source added.

The party may announce its other candidates later in the day.

AIMIM’s Delhi president Shoaib Jamai said, “We will not contest all seats but, wherever we do, we will leave no stone unturned. Our candidates will be strong, like Tahir Hussain from Mustafabad and Shafa-ur-Rehman from Okhla. Both are currently jailed in cases related to the CAA-NRC protests.”

The Delhi High Court had on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) granted custody parole to Mr. Hussain in a riots-related murder case to enable him to file his nomination papers.

Violence broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, leaving 53 dead and several injured.

New Delhi:

Senior BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri made a sexist remark about Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday, declaring the AAP leader is “roaming the city like a deer”. At a rally in the national capital, which will hold an Assembly election in three weeks, he said, “Dilli ki janta nark bhog rahi hai galiyon mei… galiyon ki halat dekhiye… Kabhi Atishi nahi gayi milne logon se. Lekin ab chunaav ke samay jaise jungle mei hirni bhaagti hai vaise Atishi Dilli ki sadko pr hirni jaise ghoom rahi hain.”

Translated, the remark means, “The people of Delhi are suffering in the streets of Delhi… Look at the condition of the streets… In the last four years, Atishi never came to meet the people and now when the elections are here, she is roaming on the streets of Delhi like a deer runs in the forest.”

The AAP has yet to respond to Bidhuri’s crude jab.

Atishi – who succeeded party boss Arvind Kejriwal to the top post after he was forced to stand down last year over involvement in an alleged corruption scam – will contest the February 5 poll from Delhi’s Kalkaji.

The BJP has named Bidhuri – no stranger to incendiary remarks against political rivals, including communal slurs against then BSP leader Danish Ali – as its candidate for that seat.

This isn’t the first time Bidhuri has made inappropriate and unseemly remarks against female colleagues. He earlier declared that were he to be elected as a Delhi MLA, he would make roads which are like Congress leader “Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks”. He later offered an apology.

READ | Priyanka Responds To BJP Leader’s Controversial “Cheeks” Remark

He earlier also launched another personal attack, targeting Atishi’s father. A heart-broken AAP leader broke down, telling reporters, “For elections, he (Bidhuri) stooped so low… he abused an old man…”

VIDEO | Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Breaks Down Over BJP Leader’s Jibe

There has also been talk, which Bidhuri has squashed, of the BJP leader being a chief ministerial candidate. In a statement issued on Sunday he said, “The party has given me a lot, I have no claim to any post. I am as dedicated to the people as I am to the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is completely baseless to talk about me for the post of chief minister. I will continue as your servant.”

READ | “Not Contender”: BJP Leader On AAP’s ‘Chief Minister Face’ Claim

The Congress, meanwhile, has named a former AAP leader, Alka Lamba, as its candidate.

INDIA bloc allies on paper, the AAP and the Congress have fallen foul of each other since the Haryana election in October last year, for which the two failed to agree a seat sharing deal.

READ | “When INDIA Bloc Was Formed…”: Allies’ Reminder To Congress Before Delhi Poll

The Congress was then routed by the BJP. The Haryana disaster drew jabs from the SP and Trinamool, both of whom made pointed reference to their own failed seat-share talks with the bloc head.

And, fuelled by similar spats – including for Delhi’s seven Lok Sabha seats in the April-June federal election – the Congress and the AAP confirmed in December they will be rivals this time around.