Wed Feb 05 12:42:00 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Assembly Elections: Low Turnout, High Stakes as Voting Concludes
**New Delhi, [Date]** – Delhi concluded its assembly elections today with a provisional voter turnout of 57.7% by 5 PM, significantly lower than the over 60% recorded in the previous two elections. This lower turnout marks a departure from recent trends, where high participation coincided with overwhelming victories for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The last time turnout dipped below 60% was in 2008.
The day saw a largely peaceful voting process, though allegations of “fake voting” and vote-buying were traded between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). AAP’s Manish Sisodia and BJP’s Virendra Sachdeva leveled accusations against each other.
Exit polls are expected to be released shortly after the 6 PM voting deadline, with initial trends anticipated around 6:30 PM. Previous exit polls accurately predicted AAP’s victories in the past two elections.
This election is marked by several key issues. Corruption allegations against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and other senior party members, stemming from the liquor policy case, dominated the campaign. The BJP and Congress also targeted the AAP’s record on air quality, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
A major controversy involved Kejriwal’s accusation that the Haryana BJP government poisoned the Yamuna River water supplied to Delhi. The BJP strongly refuted the claim, and the Election Commission issued notices to Kejriwal.
The impartiality of the Election Commission (EC) also became a point of contention, with both Kejriwal and Chief Minister Atishi alleging bias in favor of the BJP. The EC issued a rebuttal to these claims.
The BJP, aiming for its first Delhi victory since the late 1990s, focused its campaign on attacks against Kejriwal, including allegations of misuse of public funds. The Congress, meanwhile, hopes to improve its standing after recent electoral gains in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.
The AAP, which surprisingly won in 2013 and secured landslide victories in 2015 and 2020, faces a crucial test today. The lower-than-expected voter turnout adds an element of uncertainty to the outcome, which will be keenly watched across the nation.
First Piper 