Polling is underway across all 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi, with the city recording an 8.10 per cent voter turnout by 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The electoral process began early in the morning and will continue until 6 p.m., with security measures heightened across the capital.

Among key constituencies, voter turnout varied in the initial hours. New Delhi recorded 7 per cent voting, Jangpura stood at 7.5 per cent, and Kalkaji saw 6.2 per cent voter participation by 9 a.m. In other areas, Okhla registered 7.90 per cent, Seelampur saw 11.02 per cent, Matia Mahal recorded 6.49 per cent, Ballimaran stood at 6.97 per cent, Mustafabad reached 12.43 per cent, Babarpur had 9.36 per cent, while Chandni Chowk lagged with 4.53 per cent voter turnout.

District-wise, Central Delhi recorded 6.67 per cent voter participation by 9:30 a.m., while East Delhi stood at 8.21 per cent. New Delhi saw 6.51 per cent turnout, North Delhi recorded 7.12 per cent, and North East Delhi saw 10.7 per cent voting. Meanwhile, North West Delhi registered 7.66 per cent, Shahdara recorded 8.92 per cent, South Delhi reached 8.43 per cent, South East Delhi stood at 8.36 per cent, South West Delhi saw 9.34 per cent, and West Delhi recorded 6.76 per cent voter turnout.

Authorities have intensified security across polling stations, particularly at nearly 3,000 booths marked as sensitive. A total of 220 paramilitary force companies, 35,626 Delhi Police personnel, and 19,000 Home Guards have been deployed to maintain law and order. Additionally, drone surveillance and Quick Reaction Teams are in place to monitor the situation.

The elections will determine whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) retains its stronghold, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stages a comeback, or the Congress manages to regain lost ground. The results, scheduled to be declared on February 8, will reveal the political direction of the national capital.

Campaigning for the elections ended on Monday at 6 p.m. after an intense battle among the parties. In the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, the AAP secured a landslide victory with 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP won eight. The Congress, on the other hand, failed to secure a single seat for the second consecutive time.

As voting progresses, all eyes are on the final turnout and the electoral outcome.

–IANS