New Delhi [India], February 5: The Delhi assembly elections saw a slow voter turnout of 8.10% by 9 am, as per the Election Commission of India. The North East district recorded the highest turnout at 10.70%, followed by South West at 9.34%. On the other hand, New Delhi saw a sluggish turnout of just 6.51%. Other districts showed varied participation: Central (6.67%), East (8.21%), North (7.12%), North West (7.66%), Shahdara (8.92%), South (8.43%), South East (8.36%), and West (6.76%).
In addition, bypolls in Milkipur (Uttar Pradesh) and Erode (East) (Tamil Nadu) recorded a turnout of 13.34% and 10.95%, respectively, by 9 am. Polling for Delhi’s 70 assembly seats and by-elections for two seats in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh commenced at 7 am amidst heightened security.
The Delhi elections are critical for AAP, BJP, and Congress. AAP aims to retain power for the third consecutive term, while BJP seeks to break a 27-year drought and return to power. Congress, which once dominated Delhi, aims to stage a comeback after struggling in the past two elections.
Key contests in Delhi include:
- New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal (AAP) faces BJP’s Parvesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit.
- Jangpura: Manish Sisodia (AAP) competes with Congress’s Farhad Suri and BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah.
In total, 699 candidates are contesting in Delhi’s 70 constituencies. The counting of votes is scheduled for February 8.
Key Highlights:
- Voter Turnout: 8.10% in Delhi, highest in North East at 10.70%
- Key Districts: New Delhi (6.51%), Central (6.67%), South West (9.34%)
- High-Stakes Election: AAP seeks third term, BJP aims to break 27-year drought, Congress eyes comeback
- Prominent Contests: Arvind Kejriwal vs Parvesh Verma, Manish Sisodia vs Farhad Suri
- Other Elections: Milkipur and Erode bypolls underway
- Vote Counting: February 8