GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th Feb. Delhi recorded a 57.89% voter turnout in the assembly elections held on Wednesday, witnessing a fierce contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The voter turnout was lower than the 62.59% recorded in the 2020 elections, where AAP secured a landslide victory.
Polling stations saw long queues from early morning, with many voters still casting their ballots past the scheduled closing time of 6 PM. Exit poll projections, released shortly after polling ended, predicted a possible victory for the BJP, while the Congress was expected to perform poorly once again.
Allegations of Malpractices
The polling process was marred by allegations of voting irregularities. Both AAP and BJP accused each other of distributing money and engaging in fake voting. In Seelampur, a BJP leader claimed that individuals in burqas were involved in voter fraud, but Delhi Police dismissed the allegations. In Kasturba Nagar, two men were apprehended for allegedly attempting to vote fraudulently.
Despite the accusations, the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer stated that polling was conducted smoothly, with adequate security deployed across the 70 constituencies. Some electronic voting machines (EVMs) were replaced during the mock polling and actual voting process.
High-Profile Voters and First-Time Participants
Prominent leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Union Ministers S. Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, cast their votes early in the day.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, contesting from the New Delhi seat for the fourth consecutive time, voted alongside his family. Urging citizens to vote for development, Kejriwal said, “Hopefully, people will vote for those who work.”
For the first time, Pakistani Hindu refugees who received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act cast their votes at Majnu-ka-Tilla. First-time voters, elderly citizens, and transgender individuals also participated enthusiastically.
Exit Polls Predict BJP Edge
At least six exit polls forecast a BJP victory, while two predicted AAP’s return to power. Two other surveys suggested a close contest but leaned towards a BJP win.
AAP national spokesperson Reena Gupta rejected the exit poll findings, stating that Arvind Kejriwal would return as Chief Minister for a fourth term. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva asserted that the party’s victory would surpass expectations.
With 699 candidates in the fray, the election results will determine whether AAP retains power for a third term or if BJP reclaims Delhi after 27 years. The final outcome will be declared when the votes are counted.
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