Delhi Election 2020 Voting Percentage LIVE Updates: 54.65 percent turnout recorded as polling comes to an end; highest turnout witnessed in North East district

Highest poll percentage recorded in Central delhi's Matia Mahal constituency

The highest poll percentage, as of 6 pm, was recorded in Central Delhi's Matia Mahal constituency, where Muslims constitute a considerable proportion of the voters.

Veteran leader Shoaib Iqbal has won every election in this constituency between 1993 and 2015 fighting on different symbols. This year, the AAP has fielded Iqbal while the Congress candidate is Mirza Javed Ali. The main contest was likely restricted to these two parties, while the BJP could expect a favourable verdict in case of a split in the Muslim vote bank.

Palam sees 58% voter turnout as of now

Palam constituency has recorded 59 percent votes as of now. AAP's Bhavna Gaur is fighting to retain the seat while the BJP, which has won the seat twice in the past, is looking to wrest the seat from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. The saffron party has nominated Vijay Pandit to fight the upcoming election. The Congress., meanwhile, has given the seat to its ally RJD. 

Three seats BJP left for its allies witness low turnout

The Bharatiya Janata Party is a key contender of Aam Aadmi Party in these elections and it is contesting polls on all but three seats in Delhi These are Burari, Seemapuri and Sangam Vihar. And coincidentally, the voter percentage has remained considerably low in all these seats. These are also seats with sizeable Muslim population, a community that is expected to vote for the strongest candidate against the BJP. However, with the saffron party out of the fray, the low numbers could also mean that the party was not able to get its supporters to vote for its allies. 

Burari - 32.20%

Sangam Vihar - 29.38%

Seemapuri - 36.46%

Only 29.38% votes polled in Sangam Vihar; constituency a challenging field for all three parties in fray

The Sangam Vihar assembly constituency is important for all the key contestants as it throws up an interesting potpourri of demography and class. This means that no party has a clear upper hand over the voters here.

It has the most number of unauthorised colonies in the capital, which is why the regularisation of colonies is a big issue here where BJP sees a chance to score some browny points. However, most of the residents here are poor or fall in the lower-middle class category, making AAP’s subsidies on water and power quite vital in the area. But also, almost one-fifth of Sangam Vihar’s population is Muslim. The BJP’s attempts to polarise voters are quite likely to be visible in this area, which may either unite Muslim votes against BJP, or also split it between AAP and Congress. 

A poor voter turnout could be worrying for all three candidates contesting from the region. AAP has fielded its ncumbent MLA Dinesh Mohaniya, who is also the vice-chairman of the Delhi Jal Board. He is facing former BJP MLA SCL Gupta, who is contesting on a JD(U) ticket and Poonam Azad of Congress. BJP has not fielded a candidate from the Assembly constituency as per its seat-sharing agreement with NDA partner JD(U). 

Muslim-dominated Mustafabad records highest voter turnout so far; only seat to have polled over 50% votes till now

The Mustafabad Assembly constituency came into existence in 2008 as part of delimitation exercise. The constituency is part of the North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. It recorded a 53.10% voter turnout in contrast to Okhla — another seat with sizeable Muslim vote — that clocked just 30.93% votes till 3:50 pm. 

Over the last seven years, AAP has successfully weaned away Muslim voters, who have long been considered a traditional Congress vote bank. In 2015, when AAP had swept the Delhi elections winning 67 seats and giving away only three to BJP, Mustafabad was the only Muslim-dominated seat that was won by BJP.

For the upcoming Delhi Assembly Election 2020, the key candidates in Mustafabad constituency include Haji Yunus of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jagdish Pradhan of the BJP and ex-MLA Hasan Ahmed's son Ali Mehndi from Congress. Mehndi is also head of the Congress party's minority wing.

Narela records highest voter turnout so far

Voters in this rural constituency in the National Capital has performed way better than other plush localities such as RK Puram, New Delhi, or Chanakyapuri. The cosntituency clocked 49.76 percent turnout till 3.30 pm, even as the average for rest of the city remained at a disappointing 34 percent.

Narela is one of the many Jat dominated Assembly segments in the Union Territory. Jats form over 5 percent of the electorate in Delhi and up to 30 percent of voters in Narela, according to rough estimates by political parties. Narela is a rural area with 58 villages and is along the Haryana border of the National Capital, just off the Grand Trunk Road — one of Asia's oldest and longest roads which had linked the Indian subcontinent with Central Asia. 

Delhi voter turnout remains low; here's district wise breakdown of polling data

There were no jarring differences between voter turnuot in one district versus another as opposed to the the morning trends. Howeever, the overall turnout remained abysmally low. North West Delhi reported the highest figures, while West Delhi had the lowest turnout. 

Shakur Basti sees only 24.49% voting till 2.45 pm

Shakur Basti was a region where BJP is hoping to unseat AAP on the basis of the recent law passed by the Centre that legalises unauthorised colonies, even as AAP has fielded its key face and cabinet minister Satyendar Jain from here. Even though Shakur Basti has a diverse demography, with planned areas, colonies, low-income settlements as well as slums, it also has a large trader community, which has traditionally sided with the BJP. 

Women also are a key voter group in this constituency as it maintains a higher sex ratio than the National Capital's average. According to reports, civic issues like lack of proper roads, piped water supply and sewage lines are likely to dominate the poll narrative in this constituency, which is densely populated. 

However, low voter turnout could be worrisome for both Congress and BJP as Delhi saw one of its most pitched battles. Voter disinterest usually serves well the ruling party but the odds are totally unpredictable in these polls given the polarising narrative.

Chandni Chowk constituency in Old Delhi sees just over 25% turnout till 2.30 pm despite polarising poll narrative

Delhi's Jama Masjid and areas in the Old city were at the centre of the anti-CAA demonstrations. The area which has a sizeable Muslim population saw huge crowd mobilisation during protests held at the iconic mosque and at other locations. However, that does not seem to have electrified voters as polling remained slow in the seat. 

According to Election Commission's live provisional data, at 2.30 pm, only 25.47 percent of the constituency's voters have cast their votes. 

It is one of the smallest constituencies in the National Capital in terms of electorate. Yet, it is one of the most important constituencies in Delhi primarily because of the dominance of various businesses in the area and its historic significance. This year, the Congress has fielded former AAP leader Alka Lamba, the BJP has given a ticket to Suman Kumar Gupta, while Parlad Singh Sawhney is contesting as an AAP candidate. 

Jat-dominated Bijwasan seat records lowest turnout till 2 pm

The Jat-dominated Bijwasan, part of the South Delhi district has recorded the poorest turnout with 10.79 percent of votes. Mustafabad seat in North East Delhi has recorded the highest voter turnout so far, with 37.36 percent. Key candidates in Mustafabad constituency include Haji Yunus of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jagdish Pradhan of the BJP and Ahmed's son Ali Mehndi from Congress. 

Delhi records 27.48% polling till 2 pm

According to Election Commission's voter turnout app, the National Capital has seen 27.48 percent polling since 2 pm. The polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly got underway on Saturday morning, where 1.47 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls that will decide the fate of 672 candidates. 

Mustafabad sees highest voter turnout at 36.34% so far 

Mustafabad seat in North East Delhi has recorded the highest voter turnout so far, with 36.34 percent. The Jat-dominated Bijwasan, part of the South Delhi district has recorded the poorest turnout with 10.79 percent of votes.

Shaheen Bagh, epicentre of anti-CAA protests sees long queues, but AC shows dismal poll percentage as per EC data

EC provisional data says UT recorded 15.68% polling till noon

According to Election Commission's voter turnout app, the National Capital has seen 15.68 percent polling since 8 am. The voting percentage is expected to pick up now as some sunshine has cut through the morning chills. However, it is still quite windy and the city reports an average temperature of 17 degree celcius as of now. 

Sultanpur Majra seat sees highest turnout at 16.21% so far

According to Election Commission, a reserved seat for Schedule Caste candidates, Sultanpur Majra in the North West Delhi district saw the highest voter turnout across Delhi till 11 am.  

 Situated in North West Delhi district, the constituency saw a high-profile contest in the 2015 polls, when AAP’s Sandeep Kumar earned the moniker of "giant killer" by defeating veretan Congress leader Jai Kishan by a margin of 56 percent votes. This year, the contest is even more interesting as AAP has dropped Kumar, its controversial former minister, and nominated Jat leader Mukesh Kumar Ahlawat, the BJP has given the ticket to Ramchandra Chavvaria. The Congress has nominated Kishan for the upcoming election. 

14.77% voter turnout recorded till 11 am in Delhi

Voting for the assembly elections in Delhi is underway with people queuing up outside polling booths since early Saturday morning undeterred by the chilly weather. Till 11 am, over 14 percent voters have exercised their right to vote, according to Election Commission's provisional data.

Voting percentage sees a steady rise, 5.27% people execised franchise till 10.00 am

The 10.00 am voting percentage was recorded at 5.27 percent, according to the Election Commission's Voter Turnout app. Security forces kept a tight watch across the 70 constituencies, with police and paramilitary personnel keeping an "extra vigil" in sensitive areas like Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Nagar and Seelampuri.

Delhi reports over 4% turnout within first hour of voting 

In the one hour since voting began, at least 4.34 percent voters came out of their homes to exercise their franchise. The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to ensure people vote in large numbers.