Poll fever grips Capital as bigwigs file nominations

New Delhi: In a vibrant show of public support, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, Sanjay Singh, and Dr. Sushil Gupta, filed their nominations for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections in a series of vibrant roadshows and ‘padyatras’ across the city. The events were marked by massive public participation, with thousands of supporters, particularly women, turning out to show their backing for the party.

Arvind Kejriwal, AAP’s national convenor, filed his nomination from the New Delhi constituency, accompanied by a grand ‘Nomination Padyatra’ that began at the AAP headquarters and culminated at Jamnagar House. The streets of Lutyens’ Delhi were filled with an enthusiastic crowd chanting slogans like “Arvind Kejriwal Zindabad” and “Phir Layenge Kejriwal.” A significant number of women, who are a vital part of his political base, actively participated, waving banners and energising the atmosphere. This vibrant show of support underlined the massive backing for Kejriwal as he seeks a third term as Delhi’s Chief Minister.

Before the ‘padyatra’, Kejriwal and his family visited the Maharishi Valmiki Mandir and Pracheen Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place to seek blessings for peace and prosperity in Delhi. Kejriwal, speaking to the media, expressed his gratitude for the support he had received from Delhiites over the past decade. “The love and blessings given by the people of Delhi have given me the strength to work with full dedication and the spirit of service,” he said, emphasising his continued focus on the “Politics of Purpose & Service.”

As Kejriwal filed his nomination, he expressed confidence that Delhiites would once again choose his vision of governance. He contrasted his party’s focus on policy and service with that of the BJP, accusing the opposition of focusing on “abuses” rather than offering concrete solutions. He also criticised the BJP’s recent strategy of distributing shoes to voters, calling it an “insult to the people of Delhi.”

Addressing reporters after filing his nomination for the February 5 Delhi Assembly polls from the New Delhi seat, Kejriwal responded to a question on the alleged threat to his life, saying “uparwala bachayega....”

In addition to Kejriwal, several other key AAP leaders filed their nominations, marking the party’s preparedness for the upcoming elections. Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, led a roadshow in Jangpura, which began at Angoori Mata Mandir and ended at Pracheen Shiv Mandir. The streets were lined with supporters, all showing their enthusiastic backing for Sisodia. He addressed the crowd, thanking them for their love and support, and criticised the BJP for its failure to manage law and order in Delhi. “The BJP has nothing to say. They couldn’t even manage law and order, which is their sole responsibility,” he said.

Sisodia’s message resonated with the local residents, reinforcing AAP’s narrative of governance based on transparency and service. Satyendar

Jain, the former Delhi Health minister, also filed his nomination from the Shakur Basti constituency.