The Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the schedule for the Delhi Assembly elections on Tuesday, January 7, at 2 pm. The announcement will be made at a press conference, detailing dates for polling and vote counting. The current term of the 70-member Delhi Assembly is set to end on February 23. In the previous election, the schedule was revealed on January 6, with polling on February 8 and results declared on February 11. The upcoming announcement will set the stage for the electoral process in the national capital. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Delhi’s Rohini, accused the AAP government of stalling development for the past decade. He called the Kejriwal-led administration an "AAP-da" (disaster) and urged voters to give the BJP a chance in the upcoming Assembly elections.   PM Modi promised to transform Delhi into a world-class capital if BJP wins. He claimed the BJP is trusted for its commitment to progress and said the capital has suffered under AAP’s leadership. He encouraged citizens to choose change, stating, "AAP-da nahi sahenge, badal ke rahenge" (we won’t tolerate this disaster, we want change).

A luxury vanity van near Gandhi Maidan, Patna, where Prashant Kishor is on a hunger strike, has caused a political row. Kishor is protesting in support of students demanding the cancellation of the BPSC exam over alleged irregularities. Opposition parties criticised the use of the van, calling it a show of privilege. Kishor denied using the van, saying it’s meant for basic needs during the strike. He defended his focus on student issues, questioning critics' priorities. The protest has led to an FIR against Kishor and rising tensions, with students demanding a re-exam and action on the paper leak allegations.

The BJP has unveiled its first list of 29 candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections in February 2025. Prominent among them, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma will contest against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, while Ramesh Bidhuri faces Delhi Chief Minister Atishi in Kalkaji. Other notable candidates include Vijender Gupta (Rohini), Ashish Sood (Janakpuri), and Dushyant Gautam (Karol Bagh SC). Congress has fielded Alka Lamba in Kalkaji and Farhad Suri in Jangpura. BJP's list highlights key matchups against senior AAP leaders, emphasizing its strategy to reclaim Delhi from AAP's governance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the alleged lavish renovation of his residence, which reportedly cost around Rs 45 crore. Modi, during the launch of a housing project for slum dwellers, emphasized his commitment to providing permanent homes for the poor, highlighting that over 4 crore houses have been built under his leadership. The PM mocked Kejriwal’s spending, stating that while he could have built a "sheeshmahal" for himself, his dream was to provide homes for the people. He further accused the AAP of corruption, claiming it was a "disaster" for Delhi.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been ranked as the poorest among all Indian chief ministers, with assets worth just over ₹15 lakh, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu topped the list as the richest, with assets over ₹931 crore. The average wealth of a chief minister is ₹52.59 crore. Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien called Mamata Banerjee's journey "extraordinary" and praised her simple lifestyle and dedication to public service. Jammu and Kashmir’s Omar Abdullah and Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan followed as the second and third poorest, respectively.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh publicly apologised for the ethnic violence that has gripped the state since May 2023. Addressing a press conference in Imphal, he urged citizens to "forgive and forget," acknowledging the pain caused by the unrest. Singh expressed regret for the loss of lives and displacement of families, stating, "This year has been very unfortunate. I apologise to everyone affected." He highlighted progress made over the past few months and expressed hope for full restoration of normalcy by 2025. Singh has faced criticism from opposition parties for his handling of the crisis but emphasised ongoing efforts to ensure peace.

The BJP has criticized Rahul Gandhi for traveling to Vietnam to celebrate the New Year while India mourns the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Gandhi of disrespecting Singh, claiming that he had "abused and insulted" him during his lifetime. The Congress responded, defending Gandhi's private travel and criticizing the BJP for politicizing the issue. Congress MP Manickam Tagore also hit back, accusing the BJP of diverting attention from its treatment of Singh's family. Manmohan Singh passed away last week at the age of 92.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a new scheme to provide Rs 18,000 monthly honorarium to priests (pujaris) and granthis in temples and gurudwaras. Named the "Pujari, Granthi Samman Yojana," the scheme aims to honour their role in society. Kejriwal stated this was the first time such a move was being made in the country. The BJP criticised the announcement, calling it a pre-election strategy, and questioned why similar support was not provided earlier. Registration for the scheme begins Tuesday at Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, with plans to expand across the city.

The BJP accused Congress of politicizing the funeral of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on December 26. BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya said, "Congress was present for media attention but absent in according dignity to him." He refuted Congress’s claims of mismanagement, stating the funeral adhered to protocol with full military honors. Congress alleged inadequate seating for Singh's family, disrupted procession due to Amit Shah's motorcade, and lack of proper media coverage. Malviya countered these, blaming logistical constraints and security measures, and urged Congress to "stop exploiting his death for political gain."