Delhi Election 2020 Dates LIVE updates: Voting for Assembly polls on 8 February, counting of votes on 11 February, Model Code of Conduct kicks in

Union Budget on 1 Feb

The Assembly election to be held a little over a month from now will also bring the Union Budget that will be presented on 1 February sharply into focus. Any sops announced by the ruling BJP for the middle class or the poor could see the party make gains as Delhi votes, but it remains to be seen how much fiscal space the Centre has to make populist announcements. 

New concept of absentee voters introduced this time: CEC

New concept of absentee voters introduced this time, the CEC said. Arora said that it will enable those voters to take part in elections who are not able to come to polling stations due to physical circumstances or unavoidable reasons. PWDs and senior citizens above 80 years of age can either vote in person or vote through postal ballot, the CEC added. 

Model Code of Conduct comes into effect

The Model Code of Conduct will come into effect in Delhi with immediate effect, the CEC says. It is a set of guidelines issued by the poll panel for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, election manifestos, processions and general conduct. Arora says that a media monitoring cell will also be formed for the election and all arrangements will be there to enforce the model code of conduct.

Delhi will vote on 8 February, results on 11 February

The Delhi Assembly election will be held in a single-phase on 8 February while the counting will be held on 11 February, CEC Sunil Arora announces. The notification for the nominations will be on 22 January, while the last date of filing nominations will be 22 January. The last date for withdrawal of nominations will be 24 January.

90,000 cops to be deployed in Delhi: EC

CEC Sunil Arora says that consultations were held with three secretaries before the election schedule was finalised. The commission also met Delhi Police officials and other officials to check preparedness on 26 December. The Chief Election Commissioner says 90,000 policemen will be deployed to ensure that the polling process is held smoothly. The additional secretary will handle any additional deployment of officials on poll duty, he says.

Total of 1.46 crore voters can exercise their franchise in Delhi: EC

A total of 1.46 crore voters can exercise their franchise in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, according to the final electoral list for Delhi published today. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Delhi Ranbir Singh said the final publication of voters list shows there are total 1,46,92,136 voters in Delhi including 80.55 lakh males and 66.35 lakh females.

WATCH: Election Commission will announce Delhi election schedule shortly

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora addresses the media before announcing the election schedule for Delhi elections. 

First election since BJP's Jharkhand loss

This will be the first election since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP lost Jharkhand — its second state of 2019 — last month; the BJP lost to an opposition alliance led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and including the Congress. This will also be the first polls in the national capital since the BJP swept to a massive win in Lok Sabha polls early last year; the party swept all 7 parliamentary seats in Delhi.

EC begins press conference

CEC Sunil Arora begins press conference to announce Delhi Assembly Elections. Poll schedule to be announced shortly. Details steps taken by the EC ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls. 

EC announcement shortly; elections likely to be single-phase

The Election Commission will announce the poll schedule for Delhi at 3.30pm today. According to initial reports, the elections are expected to be held in a single phase with the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC), Citizenship Amendment Act, air pollution, women’s safety, and statehood demand for Delhi likely to dominate the election narrative.

AAP, BJP and Congress: Triangular contest expected in Delhi

Three parties that are in the fray these elections are the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Indian National Congress. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP faces a triangular fight with the BJP and Congress.

The BJP is riding high on the Narendra Modi government's achievements at the Centre, while AAP is confident of sailing through in the elections on the back of work done by the Delhi government in education and health.

EC to announce Delhi election schedule at 3.30 pm today

Election Commission will announce the dates for Delhi Assembly Election 2020 at 3.30 pm today.