Voting for the Delhi Assembly elections concluded on Wednesday at 6 pm across all 11 districts of the National Capital Territory. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), voters who were in the queue by the closing time were allowed to cast their votes. The results of the high-stakes battle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress will be declared on February 8, when counting takes place.
Several prominent political leaders exercised their franchise, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, as well as Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva, AAP chief and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is currently in judicial custody, also figured among the notable names who voted.
Apart from political figures, key dignitaries such as President Droupadi Murmu, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan, former President Ram Nath Kovind, former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and senior advocate Kapil Sibal participated in the voting process.
Delhi Election 2025 Turnout
According to the ECI, the voter turnout stood at 57.89 per cent on Wednesday. Among the districts, the North-East district recorded the highest turnout at 63.83 per cent, while the South East district saw the lowest turnout at 53.77 per cent. New Delhi district registered a turnout of 54.37 per cent, just above South East. Other turnout figures reported by the ECI include: South West (58.86 per cent), East (60.11 per cent), North (57.48 per cent), North West (58.05 per cent), Shahdara (61.35 per cent), South (55.72 per cent), Central (55.24 per cent), and West (57.42 per cent).
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Delhi Election 2025: Blame Game Between AAP and BJP Amid Polling, Allegations of Voting Malpractices Surface
The AAP and the BJP engaged in a fierce war of words on Wednesday, trading allegations of voting malpractices.
Despite the claims, Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) told news agency PTI around noon that the polling process was proceeding smoothly. “A few EVMs were replaced during mock polls and actual voting also. We have a sufficient number of reserve EVMs. A strong technical team along with sector officers are sorting out EVM-related issues then and there,” the CEO said.
Tensions flared in Seelampur after a BJP leader alleged that individuals wearing burqas were attempting fraudulent voting, PTI reported. However, the Delhi Police refuted the claim, stating that no such incident had taken place. In response to BJP’s allegations, AAP workers resorted to slogan shouting. The police later deployed additional forces, including paramilitary personnel, to maintain order.
Seelampur resident Safdar Ali told PTI that BJP candidate Anil Gaur alleged that fraudulent voting was taking place. “We asked him how was that possible when there are several layers of checking. The officials are checking voter ID cards of everyone and allowing only valid voters inside the polling booth. Later, he left the area and the situation is now normal,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Kasturba Nagar, police sources told PTI that two men allegedly attempted to cast fake votes at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Andrews Ganj. The duo was apprehended and was being interrogated.
In another case, a woman in Jafrabad under the Seelampur Assembly segment claimed that someone had voted in her name at a polling booth in Aryan Public School. However, police later determined that another woman with a similar name, who lived as a tenant in the complainant’s house, had cast the vote. After verification, both were allowed to vote, police said.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia alleged that money was being distributed from a house in Jangpura and shared a video on X to support his claim. In response, Delhi Police’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast), Ankit Chauhan, said allegations of voter bribery in Sarai Kale Khan were promptly investigated, but no evidence was found to substantiate the claims.
AAP candidate from Greater Kailash, Saurabh Bharadwaj, accused the police of barricading the Chirag Dilli area and preventing voters from reaching polling booths. He shared a video on X showing a woman sitting in an autorickshaw near a barricade, alleging that the obstruction was deliberate. However, DCP Chauhan clarified that only elderly and differently-abled voters were allowed to proceed in vehicles, while others had to walk as per the Election Commission’s 200-metre rule.
The BJP, in a post on X, accused AAP workers of setting fire to the shanty of a BJP worker in Shahdara’s Kalandar Colony. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva claimed that AAP had resorted to “fake voting” out of desperation, alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party was “rattled by its imminent defeat.”
The New Delhi district election office addressed concerns about polling agents being replaced, stating that while some parties alleged that relievers were not being allowed inside polling booths, on-ground verification revealed that polling agents inside were unwilling to vacate their positions, preventing relievers from stepping in. The officials said sector officers and presiding officers had been directed to ensure a smooth rotation of polling agents.
BJP’s New Delhi candidate, Parvesh Verma, accused Manish Sisodia of resorting to “hooliganism,” sharing a video of the AAP leader purportedly demanding action against BJP workers. “Scared of defeat, AAP leaders are now showing pettiness,” Verma posted on X.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate from New Delhi, Sandeep Dikshit, alleged that both BJP and AAP were involved in bribing voters. “Today, we were in Ansari Nagar, near AIIMS, where we saw BJP workers distributing money. Two AAP volunteers were also held today for the same… The scale on which it happened this time has never happened before… We have fought a good election, we have changed the dynamics,” Dikshit told news agency ANI.
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Delhi Election 2025: AAP Eyes Third Term As BJP Aims For A Comeback
The AAP, aiming for a third consecutive term, faces a strong challenge from the BJP, which has mounted an aggressive campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP’s campaign has targeted Kejriwal over issues related to Yamuna water quality and corruption allegations. Meanwhile, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the AAP of “damaging” Delhi’s infrastructure during their campaign rallies.
Delhi has a total of 1,56,14,000 registered voters, including 83,76,173 males, 72,36,560 females, and 1,267 third-gender voters. The electorate also comprises 2,39,905 first-time voters aged 18-19, 1,09,368 senior citizens aged 85 and above, and 79,885 persons with disabilities.
To ensure smooth and secure polling, around 97,955 personnel and 8,715 volunteers were deployed. Security measures included 220 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), 19,000 Home Guards, and 35,626 Delhi Police personnel.
The election results on February 8 will determine whether the AAP secures a third term or if the BJP or Congress can stage a comeback in the national capital.
