Delhi Assembly Elections underway in India

Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 19 per cent in the first four hours of polling on Wednesday across 70 assembly constituencies, with the highest voter participation witnessed in North East district.

Polling is underway at 13,766 stations to decide the fate of 699 candidates in a contest that could reshape the political landscape of the national capital. Around 1.56 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes.

While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is eyeing a third straight term, banking on its governance record and welfare schemes, the BJP and Congress are looking for a resurgence.

Polling began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm. According to Election Commission data, 19.95 per cent voters cast their votes till 11 am.

The highest voter turnout was recorded in the North East district at 24.87 per cent and Babarpur was leading among constituencies at 31.30 per cent.

Central Delhi district recorded the lowest voter turnout at 16.46 per cent with only 11 per cent voters exercising their franchise in Karol Bagh constituency.

East Delhi district recorded 20.03 per cent polling, New Delhi 16.80 per cent, North 18.63 per cent, Northwest 19.75 per cent, Shahdara 23.30 per cent, South 19.75 per cent, South East 19.66 per cent, South West 21.90 per cent and West 17.67 per cent, according to the data.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal were among the early voters.

After casting his vote at a polling booth in Moti Bagh, CEC Kumar said everyone has worked very hard for the smooth conduct of polls.

“Today, over 1.5 lakh people are involved in conducting the elections. Preparations have been going on for months. No one should stay home without voting-everyone must cast their vote. I am sure that Delhi will see high voter turnout…Young voters are participating actively, which is encouraging. We have worked very hard to motivate them, as they represent the future of democracy,” Kumar said.

Speaking to reporters, BJP candidate from Kalkaji constituency Ramesh Bidhuri said, “PM Narendra Modi wants development in Delhi like it is happening in India. I appeal to my brothers and sisters of Delhi to vote for development, drinking water, repair of broken roads, clean sewer, clean Yamuna river”.