Delhi to vote on February 5, counting on February 8-OxBig News Network

Assembly polls in Delhi will be held on February 5 and the votes counted on 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 here.

Bypolls to two Assembly constituencies — Milkipur in Uttar Pradesh and Erode in Tamil Nadu — will also be held according to the same schedule.

Kumar said the poll body has created new records of voting, women participation and will soon have a new record of one billion-plus voters.

He said that canards were being spread about wrongful additions or deletions in electoral rolls to target particular groups.

On allegations of poll process manipulation, the CEC said, “Right to question inherent in democracy, it’s our duty to clear all doubts.”

As per Election Commission, 15 different parties emerged as single largest in polls across 30 states, union territories since Bihar state elections in 2020.

The Chief Election Commissioner said political parties are involved at each and every stage of voter list preparation with full disclosure and opportunity to object.

“Due process is followed rigorously in deletions or additions to voter lists. There is no room for any manipulation,” he added.

Kumar said that EVMs are commissioned only 7-8 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. The allegations of tampering are totally baseless,” said the CEC.

He said it is impossible to change voter turnout data and that misconceived narrative is being spread on increase in voting after 5 pm.

“Disclosure is our main pillar, detailed guidelines and datasets are available on our website,” he added.

Kumar said India is gold standard of elections and it is a shared legacy for all including all political parties.

He said that the Election Commission will ensure strict crackdown on use of money power in Delhi elections and proper checking of will be conducted.

Election Commission will monitor social media and respond swiftly to fake news, he added.