New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) – Voting kicked off for the high-stakes Delhi Assembly elections early this morning, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hoping to secure a third consecutive term. The party is banking on its governance record and popular welfare schemes, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress are aiming for a political resurgence.
At 7 AM, approximately 1.56 crore eligible voters began casting their ballots across 13,766 polling stations spread across all 70 Assembly constituencies. A total of 699 candidates are vying for seats in a contest that could reshape the capital's political landscape.
Voter turnout is expected to be a key factor in the election, with all eyes now on Delhi's electorate as they head to the polling booths. In the 2020 Assembly polls, the city recorded a voter turnout of 62.59%, while the 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw just 56% participation. Polling is scheduled to continue until 6 PM today.
To ensure smooth voting, the Election Commission has deployed a robust security arrangement, including 220 companies of paramilitary forces, 35,626 Delhi Police personnel, and 19,000 home guards. In a bid to maintain order, additional forces have been stationed at 3,000 sensitive polling booths, some of which are under drone surveillance.
Special measures have also been taken to facilitate senior citizens and people with disabilities, with 733 polling stations made fully accessible for them. A new Queue Management System (QMS) app has been introduced, enabling voters to check crowd levels in real time and streamline the voting process. Additionally, 6,980 of the 7,553 voters eligible for home voting have already cast their ballots.
The Delhi Assembly election is viewed as a referendum on AAP’s governance model and the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. AAP is looking to extend its rule in the capital, emphasizing its achievements in education, healthcare, and social welfare programs.
Meanwhile, the BJP is making a determined push to break a 25-year drought in the capital, while Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years until 2013, is seeking to regain lost ground after failing to win a single seat in the past two elections.
The campaign leading up to voting saw intense political rhetoric, with each party making sharp attacks on the other. The discourse was marked by aggressive name-calling, AI-generated spoofs, and debates over issues such as the "Sheesh Mahal" controversy, water quality in the Yamuna, and allegations of voter list tampering. While governance, law and order, and women’s welfare were key themes, promises of freebies also dominated the pre-poll narrative.
The election results, set to be declared on February 8, will determine whether AAP retains its grip on Delhi, BJP ends its losing streak, or Congress makes a surprising comeback.
At 7 AM, approximately 1.56 crore eligible voters began casting their ballots across 13,766 polling stations spread across all 70 Assembly constituencies. A total of 699 candidates are vying for seats in a contest that could reshape the capital's political landscape.
Voter turnout is expected to be a key factor in the election, with all eyes now on Delhi's electorate as they head to the polling booths. In the 2020 Assembly polls, the city recorded a voter turnout of 62.59%, while the 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw just 56% participation. Polling is scheduled to continue until 6 PM today.
To ensure smooth voting, the Election Commission has deployed a robust security arrangement, including 220 companies of paramilitary forces, 35,626 Delhi Police personnel, and 19,000 home guards. In a bid to maintain order, additional forces have been stationed at 3,000 sensitive polling booths, some of which are under drone surveillance.
Special measures have also been taken to facilitate senior citizens and people with disabilities, with 733 polling stations made fully accessible for them. A new Queue Management System (QMS) app has been introduced, enabling voters to check crowd levels in real time and streamline the voting process. Additionally, 6,980 of the 7,553 voters eligible for home voting have already cast their ballots.
The Delhi Assembly election is viewed as a referendum on AAP’s governance model and the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. AAP is looking to extend its rule in the capital, emphasizing its achievements in education, healthcare, and social welfare programs.
Meanwhile, the BJP is making a determined push to break a 25-year drought in the capital, while Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years until 2013, is seeking to regain lost ground after failing to win a single seat in the past two elections.
The campaign leading up to voting saw intense political rhetoric, with each party making sharp attacks on the other. The discourse was marked by aggressive name-calling, AI-generated spoofs, and debates over issues such as the "Sheesh Mahal" controversy, water quality in the Yamuna, and allegations of voter list tampering. While governance, law and order, and women’s welfare were key themes, promises of freebies also dominated the pre-poll narrative.
The election results, set to be declared on February 8, will determine whether AAP retains its grip on Delhi, BJP ends its losing streak, or Congress makes a surprising comeback.
