Delhi Polls: 19.95% Turnout by 11 AM, North-East Leads at 24.87%

New Delhi : After a slow start in the initial hours, the single-phase Delhi Assembly election on Wednesday recorded a voter turnout of 19.95% till 11 AM, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI). Among all districts, North East Delhi registered the highest turnout at 24.87%, followed by Shahdara at 23.30%. In contrast, Central Delhi recorded the lowest turnout at 16.46%. Other district-wise polling percentages included South West (21.90%), New Delhi (16.80%), East Delhi (20.03%), North Delhi (18.63%), North West and South Delhi (19.75% each), South East Delhi (19.66%), and West Delhi (17.67%).

Meanwhile, the Milkipur Assembly by-election in Uttar Pradesh recorded 29.86% polling, while Tamil Nadu’s Erode (East) constituency saw a turnout of 26.03% by 11 AM. Voting for the 70 assembly seats in Delhi and two seats in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh commenced at 7 AM amid tight security, with voters exercising their franchise in a crucial election battle.

Leaders React to the Elections

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP candidate from Kalkaji, Atishi, called this election more than just a routine democratic exercise. She framed it as a “battle between good and evil, work and hooliganism,” asserting that Delhi’s people support development-oriented governance over disruptive politics.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha expressed confidence in the party’s performance, emphasizing its achievements in healthcare, education, electricity, and water supply. He urged voters to recognize AAP’s governance model and support its vision for Delhi.

In contrast, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari criticized AAP’s governance, stating that despite ruling for three consecutive terms, the city still struggles with numerous issues. He accused the AAP government of failing to fulfill its promises and claimed that Delhiites are now determined to bring about a political change.

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa went a step further, calling the election a “historic moment” for Delhi. He likened it to a festival of liberation, stating that citizens are eager to rid themselves of “AAP’s misrule.” He alleged that the ruling party has fostered corruption and lawlessness in the city.

On the other hand, Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi remained optimistic about his party’s prospects, saying that Congress expects surprising results and a significant improvement in its performance.

Key Constituencies and Political Stakes

A total of 699 candidates are contesting for 70 assembly seats in Delhi, with key battlegrounds including New Delhi, Jangpura, Kalkaji, Okhla, Mustafabad, Bijwasan, Kasturba Nagar, Greater Kailash, and Patparganj. The election holds high stakes for all major political parties:

• AAP is seeking re-election, banking on its governance record over the last term.
• BJP is making a strong push to return to power, aiming to break its 27-year losing streak in Delhi.
• Congress, which once ruled Delhi for 15 years, is hoping for a comeback, after failing to secure a single seat in both 2015 and 2020 elections.

AAP currently holds more than 60 seats in the 70-member assembly and is campaigning based on its past achievements. Meanwhile, BJP is aggressively contesting to reclaim power and capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiments against AAP.

Milkipur By-Election Sparks Controversy

Amid the ongoing elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav raised concerns over police checking voter identity cards in Uttar Pradesh’s Milkipur assembly bypoll. He alleged that law enforcement officials were interfering in the election process.

However, Ayodhya police denied the allegation, clarifying via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the checks were being conducted on a candidate’s booth agents, not voters.

The Milkipur constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), has 3,70,829 registered voters. The main contest is expected to be between SP’s Ajit Prasad and BJP’s Chandrabhanu Paswan.

Counting and Results

The counting of votes for all Delhi assembly seats and the bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will take place on February 8. With political stakes high, all eyes remain on Delhi’s voter turnout trends and final results, which will shape the capital’s governance for the next five years.