A voter turnout of 57.70% was recorded by 5 PM on Wednesday during the single-phase Delhi Assembly elections, according to data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The North-East district led the voter participation with a turnout of 63.83%, while the South East district logged the lowest at 53.77%, just below New Delhi district’s 54.37%. Other districts reported varied participation rates, including South West (58.86%), East (58.98%), North (57.24%), North West (58.05%), Shahdara (61.35%), South (55.72%), Central (55.24%), and West (57.42%).
Earlier, by 3 PM, the voter turnout stood at 46.55%, indicating a steady rise throughout the day.
Simultaneously, the Milkipur assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh saw a 65.25% turnout in by-polls, while Tamil Nadu’s Erode (East) recorded 64.02% voter participation by 5 PM.
Polling for all 70 Delhi Assembly seats and by-elections for two constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh commenced at 7 AM under heavy security arrangements.
However, the voting day was not without controversy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “openly distributing money” in the Jangpura constituency’s Sarai Kale Khan area.
The Delhi Police swiftly refuted these claims. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the police said: “Allegations of voter bribery at Sarai Kale Khan were promptly investigated. Police, along with the Executive Magistrate/Flying Squad Team (FST), ensured thorough verification. No evidence was found to substantiate the claims. Effective police presence is maintained for peace and order.”
The votes will be counted on February 8, with both political camps preparing for a crucial verdict.
(Inputs from ANI)