Polling for the 70-seat Delhi Assembly began Wednesday morning, with voters heading to the polls in a secure environment as the city prepares to decide its next government. Voting started at 7:00 am and will run until 6:00 pm, with over 1.56 crore registered voters casting their ballots.
Among the electorate, there are 83,76,173 male voters, 72,36,560 female voters, and 1,267 third-gender voters. Additionally, 2,39,905 first-time voters aged 18-19, 1,09,368 senior citizens aged 85 and above, and 79,885 voters with disabilities are part of the voter base.
In preparation for the election, the city has deployed a comprehensive security apparatus, including 220 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), 19,000 Home Guards, and 35,626 personnel from Delhi Police. The polling process is also supported by 97,955 staff members and 8,715 volunteers.
To ensure inclusivity, 70 polling stations will be managed exclusively by women, another 70 by people with disabilities, and 70 additional stations will focus on encouraging youth participation.
For voter convenience, the “Delhi Election – 2025 QMS” app is available to monitor real-time crowd levels at polling stations. Medical teams and creche facilities are on-site for emergencies and families with young children. A helpline (1950) and color-coded stations are in place to guide voters.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is campaigning hard to reclaim control of Delhi. The BJP has targeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on allegations of mismanaging the Yamuna water and corruption. Meanwhile, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have accused AAP of harming Delhi’s infrastructure during their time in power.
Chief Electoral Officer R. Alice Vaz urged all eligible voters to participate, stressing that voting is both a right and a civic duty. “I encourage all voters in Delhi to come out in large numbers and cast their votes. This is our responsibility as citizens in a democracy,” she said.
However, the 48-hour “silent period” before the election sparked controversy, with the BJP lodging a complaint about alleged misconduct by AAP workers. The BJP accused AAP of causing disruptions and attempting to influence the vote, citing a video of an AAP worker holding a weapon, which was widely circulated on social media.
In Haryana, an FIR was filed against Kejriwal and others over statements about the Yamuna water crisis and allegations against the Haryana government.
Prominent Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are expected to vote throughout the day. BJP leaders, including Union Minister Hardeep Puri, and AAP leaders such as Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, have also cast their votes.
Key constituencies like New Delhi, Jangpura, and Kalkaji are expected to see intense competition. The New Delhi seat features a high-profile three-way contest between Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Parvesh Verma (BJP), and Sandeep Dikshit (Congress). At Kalkaji, Delhi CM Atishi faces challenges from Alka Lamba (Congress) and Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP). In Jangpura, Manish Sisodia (AAP) competes with Farhad Suri (Congress) and Tarvinder Singh Marwah (BJP).
