Delhi sees higher voter turnout by 5 PM compared to 2020 elections
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Delhi witnessed a higher voter turnout by 5 PM in the latest assembly elections compared to the same period in 2020.
As residents cast their votes to elect a new 70-member assembly, the turnout reached 57.7% by late afternoon, surpassing the 54.2% recorded at the same time during the 2020 elections.
The overall voter participation in the 2020 elections stood at 62.82%, which was lower than the 67.47% recorded in 2015 when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) first secured a landslide victory.
The high-stakes election saw significant participation across key constituencies. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s New Delhi seat recorded a 54.27% turnout by 5 PM. Education Minister Atishi’s constituency saw 51.81% voting, while former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s Jungpura seat recorded a turnout of 55.23%. In Greater Kailash, where Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj is contesting, 52% of voters had cast their ballots by the evening.
A total of 1.5 crore eligible voters in Delhi had the opportunity to choose their representatives from 699 candidates - 603 men and 95 women.
The election is a direct contest between the ruling AAP, the BJP, and the Congress.
While AAP aims to secure a third consecutive term, the BJP is banking on anti-incumbency sentiment to make gains. The Congress, which failed to win any seats in 2020, has focused its campaign on the achievements of its 15-year rule under former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
The voting day was marked by a heated exchange between AAP and BJP over alleged electoral malpractices. AAP accused BJP of distributing money to influence voters, while BJP countered with claims that AAP had included fake voters in the electoral rolls. Despite these accusations, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi assured that polling was proceeding smoothly.
In the last assembly elections, AAP secured a dominant victory, winning 62 out of 70 seats, while BJP managed to claim only eight. Congress failed to win a single seat. This time, most exit polls predict a strong performance by the BJP, pushing AAP to second place.
The final results of the Delhi assembly elections will be announced on February 8, when votes are officially counted.