Congress' Sandeep Dixit, son of former Delhi CM Sheila Dixit, lost the New Delhi seat but managed to undermine Arvind Kejriwal's vote count, aiding BJP's Parvesh Verma in winning the contest. This election was personal for Dixit, avenging his mother's political defeat.
Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party has lost his New Delhi assembly seat to BJP's Parvesh Verma by over 3000 votes, marking a significant setback for AAP. Despite Kejriwal's accusations of BJP attempting to poach his party candidates, the BJP has now regained power in Delhi after 27 years.
India's tax policy has evolved significantly since the 1970s, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government imposed a 97.5% income tax rate to promote economic equality. This policy led to massive tax evasion and a shrinking tax base, prompting reforms. By Budget 2025, a more progressive tax framework is anticipated, focusing on growth and taxpayer relief.
With the BJP crossing the halfway mark in the Delhi assembly election results, attention now turns to the central leadership's decision on the chief ministerial candidate. Despite the AAP's critique over the unnamed CM face, contenders like Parvesh Verma and Vijender Gupta emerge as strong possibilities.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated that the Delhi assembly election results could have been different if Congress and AAP had united against the BJP. Both parties, despite being allies in the INDIA bloc, competed individually. Raut also accused the Election Commission of ignoring voter manipulation tactics as allegedly used in Maharashtra.
Social activist Anna Hazare criticized Arvind Kejriwal for focusing on liquor issues and being influenced by power and money. Hazare highlighted that a candidate's conduct should be pure and selfless. This criticism comes as Kejriwal appears to be losing the Delhi elections.
Vote counting for the 2025 Delhi assembly elections began, with the AAP and BJP seen as the main contenders. Exit polls suggest a close race, with a slight edge for the BJP. Voter turnout was 60.5%, with AAP, BJP, and Congress contesting across all 70 seats. Results may impact Delhi's political landscape dramatically.
The Ministry of External Affairs in India summoned Bangladesh's Acting High Commissioner to express concerns over statements from Bangladesh authorities portraying India negatively. Recent comments by former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, now in exile, have added to the tensions, prompting a formal protest from Bangladesh.
Kshama Sawant, an Indian-origin American politician, led a demonstration after being denied an emergency visa to visit her ailing mother in Bengaluru. The Indian consulate in Seattle described the demonstration as 'unauthorised entry,' while Sawant alleged physical assault by officials. She has faced previous visa rejections and attributes them to anti-India advocacy efforts.
Türkiye is seeking increased flying rights to India to accommodate the growing number of Indian tourists and boost trade. The current bilaterals allow limited flights between the two countries. Enhanced connectivity is deemed essential due to rising travel demand and increased trade volume, which reached $12.5 billion in 2024.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will co-chair the AI summit in France with President Emmanuel Macron during his visit from February 10-12. He will also address the India-France CEOs forum in Marseille. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri highlighted India's focus on safe and responsible AI development. PM Modi will honor Indian soldiers of World War I and visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor site.
The high-stakes Delhi Assembly election sees Congress aiming to regain its position, facing off against AAP, which took the lead in 2015. The decisive factor could be the consolidation or division of Muslim and Dalit votes. With Dalit and Muslim-majority constituencies showing high turnout, the final results will be crucial in determining AAP or BJP dominance.
Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have alleged discrepancies in Maharashtra's voter list, citing a sudden addition of 39 lakh voters. They accused the Election Commission of ignoring repeated requests to investigate, claiming voter irregularities mostly affected Dalit, tribal, and minority communities.
Exit polls indicate a BJP comeback in Delhi after 27 years, potentially ending AAP’s decade-long governance. AAP dismisses these predictions, citing past instances where its success was underestimated. Historical data from 2013, 2015, and 2020 elections show consistent underestimation of AAP’s performance by pollsters.
