
Delhi CM Atishi Faces FIR for Alleged MCC Violation Ahead of Assembly Polls
Delhi: An FIR has been registered against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) before the upcoming assembly elections. According to officials, the District Election Officer of South-East Delhi received a complaint on January 8, 2025, accusing Atishi of using a government vehicle for her political campaign—an action prohibited under the MCC.
The complaint, submitted by the Returning Officer for the Kalkaji assembly constituency, detailed the misuse of a Public Works Department (PWD) vehicle belonging to the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). A letter from the General Administration Department (GAD), dated January 7, 2025, emphasized that government resources must not be used for election-related activities. Violating this rule could result in legal consequences under Section 223 of the BNS Act.
Following the complaint, the Returning Officer directed the Govindpuri police station to file a case against Sanjay Kumar, the Executive Engineer allegedly responsible for the vehicle's unauthorized use. Subsequently, the FIR was registered under Section 223(a) of the BNS Act, and the investigation was assigned to Sub-Inspector Sumit.
Atishi Questions Election Commission's Fairness
Responding to the complaint, Atishi, also a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), expressed doubts about the impartiality of the Election Commission. She accused the Commission of selective enforcement of the MCC, citing instances involving BJP leader Parvesh Verma. According to Atishi, Verma was seen distributing cash during a public event—a clear violation of the MCC—but no action was taken.
“Everyone saw Parvesh Verma handing out Rs 1,100 at a recent gathering. He later claimed it was part of a health camp and spectacle distribution event. Additionally, he distributed bedsheets bearing his name. Despite these blatant violations, the Election Commission remains silent. This raises serious questions about whether the police and election officials are under undue influence,” Atishi stated.
She added, “We trust the Election Commission's commitment to free and fair elections will be upheld.”
Atishi Files Nomination for Assembly Polls
Earlier in the day, Atishi formally filed her nomination papers for the Kalkaji assembly seat, representing AAP in the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5. She is set to contest against BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and Congress’ Alka Lamba. In the 2020 elections, Atishi secured a decisive victory from the same constituency, defeating BJP’s Dharambir Singh by a margin exceeding 10%.
Atishi’s Rise to Delhi’s Top Post
Atishi became Delhi’s third woman Chief Minister in September 2024, following Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit. Her appointment came after Arvind Kejriwal resigned amid the excise policy controversy. Upon stepping down, Kejriwal declared he would return as Chief Minister only with a renewed public mandate and a “certificate of honesty” from Delhi voters. Atishi took her oath of office on September 22, 2024, after being named Kejriwal’s successor.
Delhi Assembly Elections Timeline
The single-phase Delhi Assembly election will occur on February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8.