Delhi Election 2020 Highlights: Voter turnout at 61% till 5 pm; Exit polls predict AAP set for second term

As the polling ends, voter turnout stands at 61% in Delhi assembly polls till 6 pm. This time's voter turnout is lesser than that recorded last year. Exit polls predict a sweeping victory for AAP, BJP fairs as a distant runner-up, and Congress to barely open account. Congress candidate Alka Lamba attempted to slap an AAP worker, earlier in the day, accusing the latter of abusing her in foul language, AAP spokesperson said that the issue will be forwarded to the EC. Union Minister Smriti Irani and BJP MP Parvesh Verma grill Arvind Kejriwal over his tweet asking women to "take the men of the house along with them for voting". Thank you for joining DH's live coverage.

The polling for the Delhi elections 2020 went on a steady pace and concluded with a voter turnout of 54.65% till 6 pm. The drama in Delhi's political theatre had many scenes, with Congress candidate Alka Lamba trying to slap an AAP candidate, BJP MP Giriraj Singh was caught allegedly distributing cash and alcohol in Rithala and Union Minister Smriti Irani and MP Parvesh Verma taking a jibe at Arvind Kejriwal's tweet to women voters.

The exit polls forecast a sure majority for AAP, BJP as a distant runner-up and Congress struggling to even open account.

The counting for the assembly polls shall take place on February 11.

Thank you for joining Deccan Herald's live coverage onDelhi Election 2020. Get all the info on the exit polls here.

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Have a great day!

Delhi Election - Data Hub

Delhi Election Exit: Poll of Polls

The exit polls are here! Predict comfortable win for AAP

District wise polling percentage till 5 pm

North west- 58.69%
North east- 63.41%
South- 56.52%
Central- 56.59%
South west- 58.51%
East- 57.89%
West- 57.24%
North- 58.15%
New Delhi- 50.73%
Shahdara- 61.96%
South East- 55.93%

Follow the Exit Polls Results for the Delhi Elections 2020 here

As the polling ends, voter turnout stands at 54.65% in Delhi assembly polls till 6 pm. This time's voter turnout is lesser than that recorded last year.

Delhi election records 57.78% voting till 5 pm

Over 57.78% of 1.47 crore voters cast their vote on Saturday to seal the fate of 672 candidates fighting the Delhi Assembly elections, leaving parties withtheir fingers crossed till February 11 when it will be known whether the AAP will return to power or the BJP will unseat the Arvind Kejriwal-led party to claim the throne after a gap of 22 years.

Read the full report here.

Greatest opportunity to get rid of Anarchy: BJP Karnataka

The Karnataka BJP tweeted requesting the people of Delhi to exercise their choice to 'get rid of anarchy'.

Dear Delhiites,

If You have not yet voted, please come out to vote in #DelhiElections2020 .

You have the greatest opportunity to get rid of Anarchy.

One more hour to bring Life back to Delhi. Go Delhi Go ! ! !- the party tweeted.

Pranab Mukherjee appeals for higher voter turnout

"Voted today for the #DelhiAssemblyElections.

Every election is important. Every vote is essential and it counts.
I urge my fellow citizens in #Delhi to come out and vote in large numbers and participate in the strengthening of our Democracy. #CitizenMukherjee" tweeted former President Pranab Mukherjee.

Aam Aadmi Party National Secretary requested the CEO of Delhi to extend the time of polling as the voting lines are long and everyone voter must be given a chance.

"Dear @CeodelhiOffice,
At most polling stations the lines of voters is long and voting is taking time, please refer extract from hand book attached herewith.
In the interest of democracy pls ensure that all the persons standing in line get the opportunity to excercise their vote," he wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer.

As of 5 pm, 52.91% voting was recorded inDelhi, says Chief Electoral Officer.

A voter turnout of 42.70% recorded at 4:40 pm, according to VoterTurnout app

A voter turnout of 42.70% recorded at 4:40 pm, according to VoterTurnout app. Tughlakabad constituency has the highest turnout, as of now, with 53.90% at 4:40 pm. Mustafabad constituency is a close second with 53.10%, according to the app.

I had just gone to the shop to buy some stuff: BJP leader Giriraj Singh

Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who was accused by AAP over distributing money to influence voters, said, "I had just gone to the shop to buy some stuff. The shopkeeper is a known person. It has been done to raise an issue of Bihari vs non-Bihari," according to ANI.

After Smriti Irani takes a jibe at the Delhi CM, Parvesh Verma joins in saying that the 'real intention' of the AAP chief was.

"Eventually, your real mindset was revealed. Telling women to ask men to vote?" Verma asked Arvind Kejriwal in a tweet.

Prior to this, the BJP leader posted a series of tweets asking the citizens of Delhi to exercise their choice and to vote for the party.

"Vote for my Delhi

Gave development to the country

Gave home to the poor

Gave ownership to colonies

Gave women LPG

Gave skill to Indian youth

Pensions to merchants

Gave MSP to farmers and self-respecting soldiers

Gave temple to devotees

And gave Mother India her Kashmir" - tweeted Parvesh Verma.

41.5% voting till 3 pm, says Delhi Chief Electoral Officer.

30.58% voter turnout at 3:00 pm.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee cast his vote at a polling station at Kamraj lane in New Delhi Constituency. (ANI)

BJP Karnataka's tweet on Delhi elections and NPR

28.11% voter turnout at 2:00 pm.

Check out the key players and the winners and runners-up of the 2015 Assembly elections here:

Know how to cast your vote inside the polling station

Wrestler Sushil Kumar after casting his vote at a polling booth in Baprola village. (ANI)

Access to public transport and it should be subsidized for students: Raihan Rajiv Vadra

Raihan Rajiv Vadra, son of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra: It was a nice feeling to take part in the democratic process. Everyone should exercise their right to vote; I think everyone should have access to public transport and it should be subsidized for students.

Voter turnout recorded to be 26.36% till 1 pm, according to the info given by theDelhi Chief Electoral Office.

"As soon as I came out from polling booth I saw son of AAP candidate arguing with the police over getting admission inside polling booth. At that moment, an AAP worker Harmesh used abusive language against me. Thank the police who arrested him immediately," said Alka Lamba regarding the clash that took place earlier in the day with AAP worker.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra and their son Raihan Rajiv Vadra who is a first-time voter, cast their vote at booth no.114 & 116 in Lodhi Estate. (ANI)

Delhi election 2020 sees 16% voting in first 3 hours of polling

Until 11 am, the Delhi Cheif Electoral Office said 16.36% voters have cast vote. The polling started at 8 am and will end at 6 pm.

Read more

"Smriti ji, the women of Delhi have decided who to vote for. And this time in the whole of Delhi, the vote of their family is decided by women. After all they have to drive home," replies Arvind Kejriwal to Union Minister Smriti Irani.

Congress is right: Tharoor

"Listening to the Delhi campaigns of the last couple of weeks:

Aam Aadmi Partyis right aboutBJP, & BJP is right about AAP. Indian National Congressis the only party that is right about both!!" says Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor.

Smriti Irani takes a jibe at Arvind Kejriwal

"Don't you consider women so capable that they themselves could decide who to vote for?" asks Smriti Irani.

"Delhiites should see the negation What law and order and security are we all getting under Modi and Kejriwal government? There is no fear or fear in the minds of criminals," says Congress candidate Alka Lamba, retweeting a video of miscreants allegedly firing bulletsin Delhi's Zafarabad.

BJP leader Ram Madhav, Kapil Mishra cast their vote

Sanjay Singh responds to Manoj Tiwari

Here's what Manoj Tiwari said about Kejriwal

16.68% voter turnout at 12:30 pm

16.68% voter turnout at 12:30 pm. North East Delhi has the highest percentage of 19.85%, and Sultanpur Majra(SC) has the highest among theconstituencies with 24.90%.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora after casting his vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. Delhi CM & sitting MLA from the constituency,Arvind Kejriwal is contesting from here. BJP's Sunil Yadav & Congress's Romesh Sabharwal fielded against the CM. (ANI)

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani cast their vote at a polling booth on Aurangzeb lane.

Delhi’s Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan cast their vote

Voting percentage at 11 AM is 16.36%, according to Delhi Chief Electoral Office.

EAM S Jaishankar, BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Singh cast their vote

Congress candidate Alka Lamba attempts to slap AAP worker

Scuffle breaks out between AAP and Congress workers near Majnu ka Teela, Congress candidate Alka Lamba tries to slap an AAP worker. AAP leader Sanjay Singh has said the party will complain to Election Commission. (Kindly note: Abusive language)

Municipal Councillor and SDMC leader Abhishek Dutt exercised his right for the Delhi election 2020.

Modi's BJP fights tough election battle for control of Delhi

Polls have opened in Delhi’s bitterly contested state election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in a tough fight to reclaim the capital region, marking the first major test at the ballot box of his religion-based citizenship law that’s spurred nationwide protests.

Read more

Voter turnout rises to 7.23 %

"Ever since I read Hanuman Chalisa on a TV channel, BJP leaders are constantly mocking me. Yesterday, I went to Hanuman temple. Today BJP leaders are saying that the temple was defiled. What kind of politics is this? God belongs to everyone. God bless everyone, even those in BJP," says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

6.24% voter turnout at 11 am

Delhi Election 2020: Updates at 11

1. The voting for the Delhi elections 2020 for 70 constituencies began at 8 am on Saturday, and will continue till 6 pm.

2. A lady sub-inspector Preeti was shot dead as she was walking from Rohini East Metro Station to her home at 9.30 pm.

3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah urge citizens to cast their vote in record numbers.

4. Delhi Chief Minister cast his vote at a booth in Civil Lines and requested the women of Delhi to caste their voter and encourage the men of their houses to exercise their duty as well.

5. From AAPflix to Palturam, from manifesto releases to roadshows, the rigorous campaigning for the polls ended on Thursday.

6. Congress, who reigned the national capital for three consecutive decades has lost its sheen in this election, as BJP and AAP become the frontrunners.

7. AAP is the only party which has announced its CM candidate, as BJP and Congress bank on their mascot campaigners, Prime Minister Narendra Modiand Wayanad Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi respectively.

8. Electronic Voting Machines were checked and repaired in the polling booths to ensure a smooth voting process. "The 2020 Delhi polls will be tech-driven with greater use of technology elements like mobile apps, QR codes, social media interface," Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh told news agency PTI.

9. Polling official in Udham Singh who was deployed at a polling booth in Babarpur Primary School in Northeast Delhi died after suffering a heart attack.

10. President Ram Nath Kovind, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, BJP leader Parvesh Verma and several others casttheir votes.

11. 10-yrs-old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi, casts her vote at SDMC Primary School, Chittaranjan Park in Greater Kailash assembly constituency. The Delhi police help the citizens in exercising their democratic right, assisting them, providing wheelchair services and guiding them at the booths.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at polling booth number 81&82 at Aurangzeb Road to cast his vote. (ANI)

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Singh cast their vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. (ANI)

Delhi, we love you: AAP

Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency, Manish Sisodia and his wife Seema Sisodia cast their vote at MCD school in Pandav Nagar. (ANI)

110-year-old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi

110-year-old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi, casts her vote for Delhi Elections 2020, at SDMC Primary School, Chittaranjan Park in Greater Kailash assembly constituency.

Election officer Udham Singh who was deployed at a polling booth in Babarpur Primary School in Northeast Delhi died after suffering a heart attack. (ANI)

President Ram Nath Kovind casts his vote

4.33% voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 10:00 am

An election officer deployed at a polling booth in Babarpur Primary School in Northeast Delhi has died. More details awaited.

"Professionalism along with compassion. Dwarka District police personnel are helping out senior citizens and specially abled voters in reaching the polling booths," says the Delhi Police.

Voters continue to arrive at polling booth number 81&82 at Aurangzeb Road to cast their votes.

Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his family casts his vote at a polling booth in Civil Lines; BJP's Sunil Yadav & Congress's Romesh Sabharwal are contesting against him from New Delhi constituency. (ANI)

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leaves for casting his vote. BJP's Sunil Yadav andCongress's Romesh Sabharwal are contesting against him from New Delhi constituency. (ANI)

Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Rajinder Nagar, Raghav Chadha casts his vote at a polling station in Rajinder Nagar; Congress's Rocky Tuseed and BJP's RP Singh are contesting from the assembly constituency here. (ANI)

Can Delhi’s ‘intelligent’ voter be turned into an ‘emotional’ one?

Although preference of Indian voters has changed from time to time since Independence, but they have remained more or less loyal to a party or an 'ideology' for a significant time span. However there has been a clear shift from this trend in recent years.

Read more

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Meenakshi Lekhi casts her vote at a polling station in South Extension Part-II. (ANI)

Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev and his family after voting.

EVM is also not functioning at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth number 114, New Delhi constituency. Earlier, voting hadnotbegun at C10 block booth in Yamuna Vihar due to a technical issue in the EVM. Election Commission's technical team at the spot.

"SED police staff assisting the elderly and those voters who need assistance," says Delhi Police in a tweet.

"Today people of Delhi will vote for quality education, healthcare, women’s safety and good governance.
I have no doubt that Delhi will lead the way in defeating the politics of hate and set an example for the entire country
Jai Hind" says AAP's Atishi.

Where do AAP, BJP and Congress stand? Here is the SWOT analysis

Delhi elections are scheduled to take place on February 8 and the counting of votes on February 11. Voters need to make a choice between the three major parties dominating the elections in the national capital – Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC).

Read more

Congress candidate from the Chandni Chowk assembly constituency, Alka Lamba casts her vote at polling booth number 161 at Tagore Garden Extension; She is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP's Suman Gupta. (ANI)

Congress candidate from the Chandni Chowk assembly constituency, Alka Lamba casts her vote at polling booth number 161 at Tagore Garden Extension; She is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP's Suman Gupta.

"The media have reached the spot at Budh Vihar, phase 1, Rithala constituency. The EC should arrest Giriraj Singh," saidAAP spokesperson Sanjay Singh.

Voting has not yet begun at C10 block booth in Yamuna Vihar due to a technical issue in the EVM. Election Commission's technical team at the spot. (ANI)

Lt Governor Anil Baijal and his wife Mala Baijal cast their vote at a polling station at Greater Kailash; AAP's sitting MLA and candidate Saurabh Bhardwaj is contesting against BJP's Shikha Rai and Congress's Sukhbir Pawar from here. (ANI)

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan along with his mother arrive at Ratan Devi Public School in Krishna Nagar to cast their votes; BJP's Anil Goel and Congress's Ashok Walia contesting from here against AAP's sitting MLA and candidate SK Bagga. (ANI)

Justice R. Bhanumati arrives at NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent Road, to cast her vote. (ANI)

Opinion polls declare AAP winner in Delhi election 2020

Three opinion poll have given the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP another term in power in the Delhi Assembly polls while predicting that BJP's 22-year-old wait may extend for another five years for a shot in the capital's government.

Read more

Amit Shah tweets

Congress tweets

BJP MP Parvesh Verma casts his vote at a polling station in Matiala assembly constituency

BJP MP Parvesh Verma casts his vote at a polling station in Matiala assembly constituency; BJP and Congress have fielded Rajesh Gehlot and Sumesh Shokeen from the constituency, respectively. Gulab Singh Yadav of AAP is the current MLA and party's candidate from Matiala. (ANI)

Here's how to cast your vote without a voter ID?

n case your name is on the electoral roll but you don’t have a voterid, there is a set of 11 alternative photo identity documents that can be furnished to cast your vote.

Read more

To find answers to all your Election Day related queries check out: Election FAQs

UP MC Yogi Adityanath tweets

Delhi Election 2020: Woman cop shot dead near Rohini East Metro station

A 26-year-old woman sub-inspector (SI) of the Delhi Police was shot dead near Rohini East Metro station on Friday night, officials said.

The SI, Preeti Ahlawat, was posted in Patparganj Industrial Area Police Station, police said.

Read more

Kejriwal appeals to voters

A queue of voters at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh, Okhla. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi and BJP's Brahm Singh Bidhuri. (ANI)

Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has cast his vote at the polling station set up at NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent. He says, "it is basic duty of every citizen to vote. It is important to get out there and contribute." (ANI)

"Use your authority, go to the polling booth in maximum number and vote," tweets Delhi Congress.

AAP tweets

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav arrives at a polling station in Jhandewalan area, in Karol Bagh assembly constituency. AAP has fielded its sitting MLA Vishesh Ravi from here. BJP's Yogendra Chandolia & Congress' Gaurav Dhanak are contesting from here. (ANI)

Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Krishna Nagar Assembly constituency, Dr. Anil Goel, says, "I am confident that in the next 5 years Delhi will have 'Saaf paani, saaf hawa aur saaf vyavhaar'. (ANI)

Voters begin to arrive at the polling stations at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency (pic 1&2) and NDMC School of Science and Humanities (pic 3&4) at Tughlak Road; Polling for 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi to begin shortly. (ANI)

Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency Manish Sisodia at Mayur Vihar Phase II says, "Today, people of Delhi will vote for better education and future for their children"; The BJP has fielded Ravi Negi from the constituency.

Preparation for voting underway

Police checks vehicles at border areas

"To make Delhi more secure and prosperous, to change Delhi, choose BJP candidates in the assembly elections. The vote of the people of Delhi will also increase my power in the Center: PM Modi

Nation changed, now change Delhi," tweets BJP.

Delhi Election 2020: Will Congress be a part of the race or get sidelined?

DH Cartoons by Sajith Kumar

Read more

Visuals from Polling Station 80 at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. CM & sitting MLA from the constituency, Arvind Kejriwal is contesting from here. BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav & Congress has fielded Romesh Sabharwal from here. (ANI)

Voters start arriving at a polling station in Jhandewalan area

Voters start arriving at a polling station in Jhandewalan area, in Karol Bagh assembly constituency. AAP has fielded its sitting MLA Vishesh Ravi from here. BJP's Yogendra Chandolia & Congress' Gaurav Dhanak are contesting from here. Voting begins at 8 AM. (ANI)

Delhi polls: Road outside Jamia's gate no 07 cleared ahead of voting

FIR lodged against AAP over 'Sholay' spoof video

An FIR was registered against the Aam Aadmi Party over a spoof video of popular Bollywood film 'Sholay' in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah is shown as 'Gabbar' and three other BJP leaders as dacoits, police said on Friday.

People od Delhi are requested to contact the Delhi Police Control Room at 112 or report the matter at your local Police Station for necessary action.

Visuals from polling station 69 (NDMC School of Science & Humanities) at Tughlak Crescent Road. Delhi to cast its vote today, as the polling begins at 8 AM. (ANI)

Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, BJP candidate from Hari Nagar assembly constituency offers prayers at Fateh Nagar Gurudwara.

Lady sub-inspector in Rohini shot dead

In an uneventful turn of events, a lady sub-inspector in Rohini shot dead, according to media reports.

A Sub-Inspector of Delhi Police - Preeti, posted in Patparganj Industrial Area Police Station, was found dead with multiple bullet injuries in Rohini area, earlier tonight. Forensic team and Police are present at the spot.

As per the Police, Sub-Inspector Preeti was walking from Rohini East Metro Station to her home at 9.30 PM, when an unidentified person came, took out a pistol&shot her in her head. She died at the spot.

Police have collected CCTV footage from the area&are examining it.

(ANI)

Delhi! It's voting time!

The polling will be held between 8 am and 6 pm while the counting of votes will be on February 11. There are 672 candidates in the fight for 70 assembly seats.

Read more

Delhi polls: Of unauthorised colonies and their messiah

It would be interesting to watch if the sparring and promises manage to sway the residents who have been fighting to get their homes regularised for years now. Who do they think is their true messiah and whom will they pick?

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Delhi Elections 2020: A litmus test for the BJP

The upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, with voting scheduled for Feb. 8 and counting on Feb. 11, is a gruelling test for the BJP. The recent poll setbacks have applied some brakes on the buoyant juggernaut.

Read more

What happens on counting day?

The strong rooms are opened in the presence of the candidates or their representatives, returning officers and EC Special Observers. The process is filmed. The Control Units (CU) of the EVMs are brought to the counting tables under continuous CCTV coverage.

Read more

Find answers to all you Election Day-related questions here: Elections FAQs

Hello readers!

Hello readers, and welcome to Deccan Herald's live on Delhi Assembly Elections 2020. Delhi's citizens are all set to exercise their right to vote today, as the nation awaits to see who will fill the national capital's coveted throne. Stay tuned to DH for all the latest updates.