Voting for the Delhi Assembly elections took place on Wednesday, with a heated triangular contest between AAP, BJP, and Congress. As of 5 pm, the voter turnout was recorded at 57.70%, with North East Delhi leading at 63.83%.
Notable leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Union Ministers, and political figures like Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi, cast their votes.
Chaos erupted in Seelampur, Jangpura, and Kasturba Nagar due to allegations of fraudulent voting, though Delhi Police confirmed the situation was under control. The Delhi Assembly polls are crucial for AAP’s bid for a third consecutive term, while BJP aims to reclaim power after 25 years and Congress hopes for a revival.
The election saw fierce campaigning, with issues such as governance, law and order, women’s welfare, and development dominating discussions. Candidates from the three major parties contested across 13,766 polling stations in Delhi’s 70 constituencies, with 699 candidates in the fray. The results will be declared on February 8.
In the 2020 Assembly polls, Delhi had recorded a turnout of 62.59%, while the 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw only 56% participation.
As of 5 PM, voter turnout in the Delhi Assembly elections stood at 57.70%, with North East region recording the highest turnout at 63.83%, as per the Election Commission of India.
In Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tilla, 186 Pakistani Hindu refugees, granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, cast their votes for the first time in the Delhi Assembly elections. This marks a significant milestone in their journey from statelessness to citizenship. Though many face struggles, including poor living conditions, their newfound right to vote symbolizes hope for a better future. For these refugees, voting is not just a civic duty but a declaration of belonging in India.
MoS Harsh Malhotra levelled serious allegations against AAP leaders and workers adding that the party does not respect the law. The minister alleged that Rs 5 lakh was seized from an aide of Atishi, and in Laxmi Nagar, AAP supporters allegedly assaulted a BJP worker.
He added that the police have taken cognisance of these incidents and FIRs have been registered against them. And a "worried" AAP is trying to create fights to spoil the atmosphere.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha accused security personnel at New Delhi polling stations of blocking relievers from entering, which he claimed was happening at nearly half the booths.
Chadha raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the voting process, including the possibility of fake voting or EVM malfunctions, as relievers were unable to observe the process. He stressed that this issue could prevent proper monitoring and called for immediate action to ensure fair elections.
Speaking to reporters, Chadha said, "...Both the reliever and the polling agent are given the status of polling agent. But such complaints are coming from many places in New Delhi assembly constituency. In almost half the booths, this complaint is coming that the reliever is not being allowed to go inside.
The security personnel deployed outside the polling station are not allowing our reliever to go inside. If the reliever does not go inside and if our polling agent does not come out, then how much voting took place? Was there any fake voting or any kind of dispute at that booth? Whether the EVM is working properly or not, all these things cannot be revealed officially."
Emphasising that elections should be free and fair, Chadha stated that the party is in touch with the District Election Officer and has requested them to allow their relievers to go inside the polling booths.
The DCP of South East Delhi, in a post on X, addressed allegations of voter bribery at Sarai Kale Khan, stating that a thorough investigation was conducted by the police and Exe. Magistrate/FST. No evidence was found to support the claims.
As of 3:00 PM, the approximate voter turnout in Delhi stands at 46.55%. Region-wise, North East recorded the highest turnout at 52.73%, followed by Shahdara with 49.58%. Other areas show varying levels of participation, with East at 47.09%, North-West at 46.81%, and North at 46.31%.
Central recorded 43.45%, New Delhi had 43.10%, South saw 44.89%, and the lowest turnout was in the New Delhi constituency. These figures reflect a diverse response across the city, with some regions showing higher enthusiasm than others.
AAP candidate from the Okhla assembly seat, Amanatullah Khan, accused authorities of deliberately slowing down the voting process in the area. Speaking to PTI, Khan claimed that barricades had been set up at various locations to hinder voter turnout, stating that fewer votes would ultimately benefit the BJP.
Months after their homes were razed in a demolition drive, the displaced residents of the Khyber Pass area in north Delhi's Civil Lines queued up at polling booths on Wednesday with the hope that the upcoming government would provide them with permanent housing.
The authorities conducted demolition drives in Khyber Pass on July 13 and August 4 last year.
More than 250 houses were demolished to clear 15 acres of land.
While residents claimed they were not given adequate notice, the authorities maintained that the constructions were illegal.
Rekha, 30, who was among those displaced after the demolition drive, said, "We once had our own home but now we live as tenants because the place where we had been staying for decades suddenly collapsed one day."
"Mine is a middle-class family and with everything becoming more expensive, we now have the additional burden of paying rent. Our only hope from the upcoming government is that it would help us get our home back," she said.
Puja, in her 50s, also came to vote hoping that the new government would help her get justice.
"I have been staying at a relative's house. I came here to vote so that the new government works for us and gives us shelter," she said.
Anil Kumar, 45, said he lost both his home and shop, his source of income, in the demolition drive.
"I have two children who were studying here but we had to move in the middle of the academic year. Due to this, they faced difficulties in the admission process and their studies suffered," he said.
"Now, I am struggling to find a job. We had been living here for more than 60 years, the government should at least provide us with some compensation," he said.
A brief commotion broke out at a polling booth in northeast Delhi’s Seelampur after a woman voter alleged that someone had cast a vote in her name, leading to a heated exchange between BJP agents and voters.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) orchestrated fraudulent voting by sending women in burqas to cast proxy votes. However, the Delhi Police dismissed these allegations, stating that their preliminary inquiry found no evidence of fake voting.
According to officials, a woman named Mohini (26), a resident of Usmanpur, reported that her vote had already been cast. The issue arose due to a mix-up with another woman, Munni Devi (60), who had the same address but was a previous tenant. After verification, polling officials allowed Munni Devi to cast a tender vote.
Elderly voters, accompanied by family or police personnel, stepped out to vote in the Delhi assembly polls on Wednesday.
Former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal escorted his wheelchair-bound parents to the polling station, saying they were eager to vote despite health issues.
In Shaheen Bagh, 83-year-old Asif and his wife Masra Asand arrived with their grandchild, stressing the need for better roads and sanitation.
Shaukat Ali, 91, from Zaffrabad, called for improved healthcare, saying long queues and favouritism made treatment difficult.
In Kalkaji, 85-year-old Ram Pyari voted with her daughter, who highlighted poor roads and garbage issues.
Police assisted elderly voters at several booths, including a 92-year-old woman in Sarojini Nagar.
Allegations of fake voting emerged in some parts of the national capital, including Seelampur and Kasturba Nagar.
High drama unfolded in Seelampur when a BJP leader accused some people wearing burqas of attempting to vote fraudulently. However, police denied any fake voting in the area.
In Kasturba Nagar, police sources said two men allegedly attempted to vote fraudulently. The two men were caught and are being interrogated, they said.
Meanwhile, AAP candidate from Greater Kailash, Saurabh Bharadwaj, claimed people were being stopped from voting in Chirag Dilli. He shared a video on X showing a woman sitting alone in an autorickshaw near a barricade, alleging that it was deliberately placed to obstruct access to the polling station.
In another video, AAP's candidate in Jungpura Manish Sisodia alleged money was being distributed from a house in the area. He asked police officers on duty to conduct a raid at the house.
In Seelampur, following allegations of fake voting by the BJP, more leaders of the party began sloganeering outside a polling booth. Delhi Police, however, dismissed the charges pointing to security deployed in the area.
Till 1 pm, voter turnout stood at 33.31 per cent across 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi. Northeast Delhi recorded the highest voter turnout at 39.51 per cent and Central Delhi recorded the lowest at 29.74 per cent.
Central – 29.74%
East – 33.66%
New Delhi – 29.89 %
North – 32.44%
North East – 39.51%
North-west – 33.17%
Shahdara – 35.81%
South – 32.67%
South East – 32.27%
South West – 35.44%
West – 30.87%
Mustafabad records highest turnout till 1 pm, Mustafabad records 43%, Seelampur is at 40.25%, Gokalpur at 39.52%, Karawal Nagar at 39.18%, Najafgarh at 38%, Babarpur at 37.83%, Chhatarpur at 37.71%, Seemapuri at 37.63%, Sangam Vihar at 37.32%, and Narela at 37.60%.
Heavy police deployment was seen outside a polling booth in Seelampur after the BJP alleged fake votes being cast on behalf of AAP.
Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva accused AAP of facilitating fake voting in the assembly polls.
“There is a wave of change in Delhi. People are voting against the corrupt govt. Now, this 'AAP-da' - the 'farzi' govt has come to the extent where it is facilitating fake voting. The information that we have is that people were caught casting fake votes in the Kasturba Nagar constituency, ” he alleged.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused BJP supporters of distributing money at booth number 27 in N Block near the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a highly sensitive area.
He claimed that when he arrived at the scene, they fled. Singh called it a mockery of the election process in Delhi.
South Delhi DCP, Ankit Chauhan responded to claims of the police attempting to manipulate elections by AAP candidate Saurabh Bharadwaj and said that the police would investigate.
AAP candidate from Greater Kailash Assembly seat, Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that Delhi Police is trying to stop people from casting their votes at a polling station in Chirag Delhi.
"You have been standing here since morning to influence elections. Why are the barricades put here? Which Senior Officer of the Delhi Police has asked them to put up barricades? This is all being done to disturb the poor villagers.Did Virendraa Sachdeva or Presdient Murmu get off the car 200 metres away from the polling station?," Saurabh Bharadwaj asked.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused AAP of looting Delhi and urged people to come out and vote.
He said, "They (AAP) made Delhi sick. They looted Delhi. Now we will do work. Now Delhi is going to give us the opportunity. We are not distributing money. We are not distributing liquor. People of Delhi should come out of their homes and vote as much as possible."
After casting his vote, CPI-M leader Prakash Karat said that he had voted against the Centre and the LG's interference.
He said, "There was only issue that the elected government in Delhi was not allowed to function. We have voted against the centre's and the LG's interference. The elected government should have the right to function."
After casting his vote, former Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud spoke to reporters and emphasised the importance of voting as a democratic process.
He urged young voters to step out and cast their vote, saying "There's lots of time left for voting to conclude and they must come out and cast their vote."
Arvind Kejriwal along with his wife Sunita Kejriwal and parents Gobind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi, cast their votes in a polling station at Lady Irwin Senior Secondary School.
After casting her vote, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal said "People of Delhi are very intelligent. We trust them. They don't tolerate 'gundagardi' (hooliganism). So, we firmly believe that the people of Delhi will make the right choice."
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cast her vote and urged the people of Delhi to vote so that solutions could be found for their issues.
“I appeal to everyone to come out of their homes and vote. This is the biggest right given by the Constitution. I know that people of Delhi have had enough, they are telling about issues of water, pollution, roads. If you have to find a solution, then vote,” she said.
Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi cast her vote at Nirman Bhawan.
She was accompanied by MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the party's candidate from the New Delhi constituency Sandeep Dikshit.
Till 11 am, voter turnout stood at 19.95%% across 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi. Northeast Delhi recorded the highest voter turnout at 24.87% and Central Delhi recorded the lowest at 16.46%.
Central Delhi-16.46 %
East Delhi-20.03 %
New Delhi 16.80 %
North Delhi-18.63 %
North East Delhi- 24.87%
Northwest Delhi – 19.75 %
Shahdara -23.30 %
South Delhi -19.75 %
South East Delhi – 19.66 %
South West Delhi – 21.90 %
West Delhi-17.67 %
In a swipe at the AAP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged people of Delhi to remember while voting who committed the biggest scam in Delhi by talking about practising clean politics.
The former Congress president said people's vote for his party will protect their rights, strengthen the Constitution and put Delhi back on the path of progress.
AAP's Somnath Bharti, the incumbent MLA from Malviya Nagar seeking a fourth term, expressed confidence in retaining his seat.
Delhi chief minister Atishi accused the Delhi police of supporting the BJP.
"Delhi Police can do anything. Delhi Police is openly making the BJP fight elections. On one side, there is hooliganism of the BJP, and on the other side, Delhi Police is extending full support to BJP," she said.
Anurag Singh, a resident of Greater Kailash, said that the persistent Delhi pollution was a key factor in his decision to vote.
He expressed disappointment with the ruling party’s failure to address the crisis and hoped that a change in government would lead to effective relief measures.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha appealed to citizens to come out and vote, while also expressing his confidence in the party winning for a third time.
He said, “Aam Aadmi Party has fought the elections with a lot of hard work, with truth and honesty. I am confident that this time too we will be successful in getting the love and blessings of the people and will once again be engaged in the service of Delhi."
AAP's candidate from the Babarpur assembly seat, Gopal Rai accused the BJP of attacking journalists and women, as well as distributing money as a desperate attempt to avoid defeat.
He said, "I appeal to people to vote in large numbers and vote for work. BJP is desperate and due to the disappointment of defeat, they are doing all prohibited things whether it is attacking journalists, women, or distributing money. All this shows that BJP is desperate."
In a post on X, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked voters to remember who was responsible for broken roads and facilities in Delhi and vote for Congress.
“While voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, broken roads. Who committed the biggest scam in Delhi while talking about doing clean politics?” he said.
BJP candidate from Kalkaji Bidhuri said, "The way India is emerging, Delhi should also be like that. PM Modi wants development in Delhi like it is happening in India. I appeal to by brothers and sisters of Delhi to vote for development, drinking water, repair of broken roads, clean sewer, clean Yamuna river."
Till 9 am, voter turnout stood at 8.1% across 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi. Northeast Delhi recorded the highest voter turnout at 10.70% and Central Delhi recorded the lowest at 6.67%.
Central Delhi-6.67%
East Delhi-8.21%
New Delhi-6.51%
North Delhi-7.12%
North East Delhi-10.70%
North West Delhi-7.66%
Shahedara-8.92%
South Delhi-8.43%
South East Delhi-8.36%
South West Delhi-9.34%
West Delhi-6.76%
Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar cast his vote at a polling booth in New Moti Bagh.
Union home minister Amit Shah in a post on X appealed to the people of Delhi to “vote against false promises, polluted Yamuna, liquor shops, broken roads and dirty water.”
“Today, vote in large numbers to form a government that has a strong track record of public welfare and a clear vision for the development of Delhi. Your one vote can make Delhi the most developed capital of the world," he said.
Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi cast his ballot at a polling station at Nirman Bhawan.
In a post on X, AAP leader and candidate from the New Delhi constituency, Arvind Kejriwal said that “hooliganism will lose, Delhi will win.”
He also said, “ Your vote is not just a button, it is the foundation of your children's bright future. It is an opportunity to provide good schools, excellent hospitals and a respectable life to every family.”
Appealing voters to exercise their franchise, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi wrote in a post on X, “Today’s election in Delhi is not just an election, it is a religious war. This is a battle between good and evil. It’s a battle between work and hooliganism. I appeal to all the people of Delhi to cast their vote. Vote for work, vote for goodness. Truth will prevail.”
EAM S Jaishankar and his wife Kyoko Jaishankar cast their vote at a polling booth set up at NDMC School of Science and Humanities, Tughlaq Crescent.
A woman filed a case at Sangam Vihar police station on Wednesday as polling began, accusing AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya for giving a flying kiss to her.
Delhi Police registers a case against AAP MLA and candidate from Okhla Vidhan Sabha, Amanatullah Khan at PS Jamia Nagar for violating MCC. An FIR has been registered against Khan for poll code breach over late night campaigning.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri casts vote at a polling booth in Anand Niketan, Moti Bagh. Puri said, "This is not a normal election. This election is one of a kind because it is not for electing Delhi government... you have to think about country's development. This election is for repairing the damage done by 'aapda' in the last 10 years."
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to X to urge people to vote for the candidate that will lead them to the “path to progress”.
“I appeal to the respected people of Delhi to cast their valuable vote. Your one vote will prove to be a symbol of change in Delhi,” he said.
“I urge our youth, especially those who are voting for the first time, to welcome this festival of democracy and definitely take part in voting,” he added.
After casting her vote, Congress candidate Alka Lamba said, "We have voted. There have been five agendas- contaminated Yamuna water, air pollution, law and order situation, unemployment, inflation, both AAP and BJP have failed. It is saddening that the Delhi of Sheila Dikshit has gone back 20 years in last 10 years. I am contesting from Kalkaji."
Indian army chief General Upendra Dwivedi and his wife Sunita Dwivedi cast their vote at a polling booth at K. Kamraj Lane in the New Delhi assembly constituency. They were also gifted saplings for being amongst the early voters there.
The army chief said, "First of all, I want to congratulate that it is a matter of great pride for the whole country that what we are seeing today is that in a democracy everyone can exercise their right to vote. It is not just the right to vote but it is also the responsibility of every common citizen to take part in the democratic process and decide the future of India themselves."
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva casts his vote at a polling booth in Mayur Vihar Phase 1. After casting vote, expressed confidence in his party’s win, stating that a "double-engine government" would be formed in the capital. He claimed that Delhi’s voters were choosing development.
Congress candidate from the New Delhi constituency, Sandeep Dikshit, cast his vote. The son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, "People should come and vote in good numbers. They should decide on a good candidate. I hope people will vote for development. I urge them to come and vote for candidates who will work for them."
Congress candidate from Kalkaji assembly seat Alka Lamba casts her vote at a polling station in Madipur
Delhi CM Atishi is AAP's candidate from Kalkaji seat, BJP has fielded its former MP Ramesh Bidhuri from this seat.
PM Modi in a post on X urged young people to go out and vote as polling begins for the Delhi assembly elections.
“Voting for all the seats in the Delhi Assembly elections will be held today. I urge the voters here to participate in this festival of democracy with full enthusiasm and cast their valuable vote. On this occasion, my special wishes to all the young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Remember - first vote, then refreshment!” he said.