Dilip Guha ★ New Delhi : Voter turnout of 57.70% recorded in 70 seats till 5 pm Delhi displayed commendable determination as they turned out in significant numbers to exercise their democratic rights.
Voting was underway for the high-octane Delhi Assembly elections, with over-voter turnout stood at 57.70% recorded till 5 PM on Wednesday across 70 assembly constituencies as per the Election Commission of India release. Northeast Delhi recorded the highest voter turnout at 63.83% and South East recorded the lowest at 53.77%.
The highest voter turnout assembly constituency-wise was in Mustafabad AC with 66.68%. and the Karol Bagh AC has recorded the lowest voter turnout with 47.5%.
Voting for the Delhi assembly elections to elect a 70-member House began at 7 am today, February 5, and continued till 6 pm.
With voting for all assembly seats took place today, the city saw increased security measures to ensure a smooth voting process. Delhiites are braving the cold to turn out at the polling booths to cast their votes. Delhiites are seen queued up outside polling booths across the city from early morning. More voters ware come to exercise their right to vote as the day progresses, amidst tight security.
Over 30,000 police personnel and 220 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed across Delhi to ensure a fair and smooth voting process.
Polling was underway across 13,766 polling stations in the national capital, to decide the fate of 699 candidates in a contest that could reshape the political landscape of the national capital. Around 1.56 crore citizens are eligible to vote in the city, including 83.76 lakh men, 72.36 lakh women, and 1,267 individuals from the third gender.
With AAP, Congress, and BJP engaged in a fierce triangular contest. PM Modi in a post on X urged the youth to vote and participate in the “festival of democracy”.
This time The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a Queue Management System (QMS) app, which will enable voters to check crowd levels in real-time. Special provisions have been made for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Moreover, Pick & Drop Services on Poll Day of Legislative Assembly Delhi – 2025 are arranged for the benefit of voters of the city. All PwD (Divyang) and 85+ aged voters can avail Pick & Drop facility to the Polling station on poll day by registering for the service.
The ECI has issued a notification banning the conduct, publication, or publicizing of exit polls between 7 am to 6.30 pm on February 5.
Delhi LG VK Saxena cast his vote along with his wife, at the polling booth set up at St. Xavier’s School, Raj Niwas Marg. After casting a vote, LG Saxena said, “I am confident that the people of Delhi will vote in large numbers and choose their government. It is also important because it decides what you want in your city or state. Many things in Delhi are on people’s radar. Pollution is a big issue, garbage mountains are a big issue, and cleaning of Yamuna is a big issue. There are many issues that I think the public will have to keep in mind. I am sure people are voting to keep all these issues in mind.”
Besides, President Droupadi Murmu, LG VK Saxena, and Sonia Gandhi among other dignitaries have exercised their right to vote. Since early morning, long queues of voters were visible outside the polling booths. Meanwhile, prominent dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Delhi LG VK Saxena, among other, have also exercised their right to vote.
President Droupadi Murmu cast her vote at Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, President’s Estate in the Delhi assembly polls.
AAP national convenor and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, along with his parents and wife, cast their votes. After casting a vote, he said, “I appeal to the people of Delhi to come out and vote for the development of the city. The one who works for Delhi will get the support of the public.”
As polling for the Delhi Assembly elections saw a steady rise during the day, first-time voters made their presence felt across the city on Wednesday, underling their hopes for better employment opportunities and demanding improved facilities. More than 1.67 lakh voters were added to Delhi’s electoral rolls between October 29, 2024, and January 6, 2025, bringing the total number of electors in the city to 1,55,24,858. As many as 52,554 first-time voters, aged between 18 and 19, were among those added to the rolls, bringing their number to 2,08,302 from 1,55,748.
Rajive, 18, who cast his maiden vote in Shakarpur, said he voted for more jobs for the youth, better education, and better living condition “I am pursuing graduation but I don’t know what the future holds,” he said, adding that the current government has done good work by providing subsidised electricity and water but it also needs to focus on roads and other living conditions.
As the political excitement grows in the national capital, Delhi residents have prepared for the important assembly elections taking place today. With voting for all seventy seats held today, the city has experienced increased security measures and careful preparations in polling booths to ensure a smooth voting process.
As the heart of India, New Delhi gears up for the pivotal assembly elections, the city transforms into a fortress of democracy. Today, the capital witnesses an unprecedented level of security deployment, a testament to Delhi’s commitment to a free, fair, and peaceful voting process.
The assembly elections, a significant event in the Indian democratic calendar, have mobilized security forces across the city to safeguard the sanctity of the electoral process. The Election Commission of India, in its unwavering pursuit of integrity, has orchestrated a comprehensive security strategy to ensure that every vote is cast without fear or favor.
The heightened security measures are not merely a response to potential threats but also a proactive approach to instill confidence among the electorate. From the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to the strategic placement of CCTV cameras and the use of drones for aerial surveillance, every step is meticulously planned and executed.
As the citizens of New Delhi head to the polls, they carry with them the weight of their civic duty and the assurance that their participation in this grand democratic exercise is secure. Today, New Delhi is not just the nation’s political Epicenter. but also the embodiment of its democratic spirit, fortified by the vigilant eyes of security that work tirelessly to protect it.
The key issues in the 2025 Delhi assembly elections are multifaceted, reflecting the diverse concerns of the electorate 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. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is focusing on its past performance and the challenges ahead while keeping a close watch on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) stronghold in the region. The electorate is considering critical issues such as access to clean water and sanitation, adequate housing, and the impact of inflation on the working class. Additionally, the centralization of executive power, its effects on India’s federalism, and the involvement of federal agencies in political matters are under scrutiny. Unemployment and inflation remain significant concerns nationwide, shaping voter sentiment in the capital. These issues, along with AAP’s performance in the Delhi Assembly, are expected to play a decisive role in determining the electoral outcome. The election is a complex interplay of local governance track records, national economic policies, and the central political narrative, all of which are vital considerations for Delhi’s voters as they prepare to cast their ballots.
AAP vs BJP vs Congress
The contest in Delhi for the 2025 elections is a three-way race involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress. Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is striving to retain power for the third consecutive term, while the BJP has not held control in the national capital for 27 years. The AAP-BJP battle in Delhi continues to heat up, with both parties clashing over governance, policies, and key issues like education, health, and infrastructure. From MCD disputes to allegations of corruption, the political rivalry shows no signs of slowing down, keeping Delhi’s governance in the spotlight.
In this high-stakes battle, Kejriwal will face off against the BJP’s Parvesh Varma and the Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit.
In the Kalkaji constituency, fierce competition is also taking place among notable candidates: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi from AAP, Alka Lamba from Congress, and Ramesh Bidhuri from the BJP.
The Congress party, which ruled Delhi for 15 years before AAP’s emergence, is now looking to reclaim its lost dominance in the Delhi Assembly. The AAP won the last two elections in 2015 and 2020 under Kejriwal’s leadership. The last BJP chief minister in Delhi held office in 1998.
As the elections are in progress, all eyes are on who will emerge victorious and what the voters’ sentiments are.
Till 5 pm, as per the last news pour in, Voter turnout of 57.70% was recorded in 70 seats, Northeast Delhi recorded the highest voter turnout at 63.83% and South East recorded the lowest at 53.77%.
Central – 55.24%
East – 58.98 %
New Delhi – 54.37%
North — 57.24 %
North East – 63.83%
North-west — 58.05 %
Shahdara – 61.35%
South – 55.72%
Southeast – 53.77%
Southwest – 58.86%
West – 57.42%
