Delhi Election Results LIVE: AAP crosses majority mark in 70-member Delhi assembly, set to return third term

Senior NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik mocked the BJP and said the massive mandate to the AAP in the Delhi polls was due to people there accepting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders' appeals "not to vote for anti-nationals".

With counting of votes on, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has already secured a majority in the 70-member Delhi Assembly and is well on its way to win over 60 seats, leaving the BJP way behind with wins on a handful of seats.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Malik said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders appealed to the people of Delhi to not vote for anti-nationals, so the people there voted for the AAP."

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan greeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the ruling AAP's victory in the Assembly elections there, saying the voters have chosen "progressive politics."

The actor expressed confidence that Tamil Nadu will "follow suit next year," apparently hinting at the assembly polls due in the state in 2021.

"Congratulations @ArvindKejriwal Ji on winning Delhi again. The righteous people of Delhi have embraced progressive politics and have shown the way by voting AAP to victory," the actor-politician said in a tweet.

Tamil Nadu "will follow suit next year," he said, adding "Lets march towards honesty and growth.

#ReImagineThamizhNadu."

While all the main parties tried to lap up last-minute defectors to win Delhi Assembly election, eight of the turncoats fielded by the AAP and one by BJP won on Tuesday.

A total of 16 turncoats were in the poll fray-- nine fielded by the Aam Aadmi Party, three by the Congress and four by the BJP.

Anil Bajpai, who was former AAP MLA from Gandhinagar, retained the constituency on a BJP ticket. He defeated AAP's Naveen Chaudhary by over 6,000 votes.

AAP rebel Kapil Mishra, who had joined the BJP and contested from Model Town, lost to AAP's Akhilesh Pati Tripathi by over 10,000 votes. Tripathi was the sitting MLA from the constituency.

AAP's Somnath Bharti wins from Malviya Nagar seat with a margin of 18144 votes. Haji Yunus wins from Mustafabad seat with a margin of 20,704 votes.

Congratulations to AAP and Shri Arvind Kejriwal Ji for the victory in the Delhi Assembly Elections. Wishing them the very best in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi.

Official ECI results declared for 40 out of 70 seats: AAP wins 37 assembly seats and is leading on 25 others. BJP has won 3 and is leading on 5 others.

My best wishes & congratulations to Mr Kejriwal and the AAP on winning the Delhi Assembly elections, says Rahul Gandhi.

Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal won the New Delhi seat defeating BJP's Sunil Kumar Yadav.

Kejriwal is all set to return to power for a third term with his party, according to latest results and trends, winning 34 seats and leading in 29 seats.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal reaches Hanuman Temple at Cannaught Place to offer prayers.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal leaves party office after celebrating party's victory in Delhi polls 2020.

AAP's Imran Hussain (pic 1) wins from Ballimaran seat with a margin of 36,172 votes.

Saurabh Bhardwaj (pic 2) wins from Greater Kailash with a margin of 16,809 votes.

Raj Kumari Dhillon from Hari Nagar with a margin of 20,131 votes.

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Tuesday congratulated Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over AAP victory in the assembly elections.

"Congratulations to @Arvindkejirwal and @AamAdmiParty for empathic victory #DelhiResults wish you the best for making Delhi better than it is. People have spoken. Democracy has strengthened. Hopefully, acrimony will end," Pilot, who is also the state Congress chief, tweeted.

Meanwhile, AAP workers went into the celebratory mode here over the party's victory.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday congratulated AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on his party's victory in Delhi Assembly elections.

"On behalf of Ms Mufti, I'd like to congratulate @ArvindKejriwal for his spectacular victory & especially Dilliwallahs for rejecting vitriolic divisive politics & voting on real issues instead," Mehbooba's daughter Iltija Mufti tweeted from her mother's handle on Tuesday.

Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement about Shaheen Bagh protests, she said, "Those exhorting Dilliwallahs to send a current got electrocuted themselves & that too at high voltage." The Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party was on course to a landslide victory on Tuesday in the high-stakes Delhi Assembly polls, leaving the main rival BJP way behind and decimating the Congress in a bitterly-fought contest that took place in the midst of massive protests over the new citizenship law.

The AAP was leading in 63 seats, the BJP in seven constituencies while the Congress drew a blank in the 70-member assembly, according to the latest vote tally.

Trinamool Congress workers Tuesday joined Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) supporters in various parts of West Bengal to celebrate the spectacular victory of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and BJP's defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls.

AAP supporters carrying party flags and posters were seen distributing sweets at various places in the city to celebrate the party's win.

TMC cadres were seen brusting crackers and distributing sweets along with AAP supporters in different areas of the state to celebrate the defeat of BJP in the elections.

Manoj Tiwari, Delhi BJP chief says, I thank the people of Delhi. I thank our party workers for their hardwork, they've done a lot. I accept the mandate of people of Delhi & congratulate Arvind Kejrwial. I hope he'll perform well as per the expectations of the people.

Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Arvind Kejriwal, says: It's the biggest gift I've received (she celebrates her birthday today). This is the victory of truth. I think politics should be done on basis of issues. Political parties should learn that such comments shouldn't be made

BJP chief JP Nadda tweets, "BJP accepts the mandate of the people. We will play our role as a constructive opposition & raise public issues in the assembly. I congratulate Arvind Kejriwal, his party and hope that his govt will work for the development of the state.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday congratulated his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal for AAP's "resounding victory" in assembly elections, saying let it be a harbinger for inclusive politics in the country.

Vijayan said the Delhi poll result could be considered as a "reaction of the people towards the continuing communal polarisation of the BJP-led NDA and its anti-people policies.

"Congratulations to @ArvindKejriwal and @AamAadmiParty on a resounding victory in Delhi elections. Let this victory be a harbinger for pro-people and inclusive politics in our country," he tweeted.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, I congratulate Arvind Kejriwal. The mandate given by the people of Delhi has shown that they will vote on work and development.

AAP candidate Adbul Rehman defeats BJP's Kaushal Kumar Mishra from Seelampur Assembly constituency by 27887 votes.

“Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has pioneered a new kind of politics,” says Arvind Kejriwal while addressing the party workers.

“I thank people of Delhi for reposing their faith in AAP for the third time. This the victory of the people who consider me as their son and voted for us.”

“This is the day of Lord Hanuman who has blessed the people of Delhi. We pray that Hanuman Ji keeps showing the right path to us so that we continue to serve people for the next five years,” added Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal greets party workers at party headquarters in Delhi.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray: I congratulate Arvind Kejriwal and the people of Delhi for AAP's victory in Delhi Polls 2020. People have shown that the country will be run by 'Jan Ki Baat', not 'Mann Ki Baat'. BJP called Kejriwal a terrorist but couldn't defeat him.

Raghav Chadha, AAP's winning candidate from Rajinder Nagar says: People of Delhi have proven that Delhi's son Arvind Kejriwal isn't a terrorist but a true patriot. He's working for nation building, the work he's doing is what constitutes patriotism. What BJP is doing, isn't patriotism

AAP leader Manish Sisodia takes out a roadshow to celebrate the party's performance in Delhi Elections 2020. He won from Patparganj Assembly Constituency.

Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, AAP candidate from Model Town says: This is the victory of development & people of Delhi. It is a reply to people who wanted to divide the country&disturb communal harmony. It is the victory of Arvind Kejriwal's dream of a beautiful Delhi.

Aam Aadmi Party's Manish Sisodia says, I am happy to become the MLA from Patparganj assembly constituency again. BJP tried to do politics of hate but people of Delhi chose a government that works for the people.

Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party's Manish Sisodia shows victory sign as he leads from Patparganj assembly constituency.

Aam Aadmi Party's Raghav Chadha celebrates with party workers as trends show he is leading from Rajinder Nagar constituency.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on AAP leading in Delhi elections 2020 says, I congratulate Arvind Kejriwal ji. I also thank the people of Delhi who rejected the politics of hate, betrayal, and destruction. After the result of this election, BJP will not remember any Bagh.

Kapil Mishra, BJP candidate from Model Town constituency says: I congratulate Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal for the excellent victory. BJP has lost the fifth state election in a row. It means we have somewhere failed to connect with the people of Delhi.

Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party's Manish Sisodia now leading by 3129 votes after 13th round of counting from Patparganj assembly constituency; Visuals from counting centre at Akshardham

AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarising, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP I salute the people of Delhi who have set an example to other states that will hold their elections in 2021 and 2022, says Chidambaram

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said he was aware of his own party Congress' dismal show in the Delhi Assembly polls, but questioned the BJP about its "tall claims" of victory.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party was set for a resounding victory in the Delhi Assembly elections to retain power for a third term.

As votes for the February 8 elections were counted, the AAP was leading in 57 of 70 seats and the BJP in 13, leaving the Congress virtually decimated in a city it had ruled for three consecutive terms, according to the Election Commission figures.

Asked about Congress' poor performance in the Delhi polls, Nath told reporters, "We are aware of this. But what happened to the BJP which was making tall claims? Being at the Centre, Modiji is close to Delhi's electorate which would have elected the BJP, if satisfied with his work." He said BJP leaders now don't talk about unemployment and farmers, but they speak on issues like nationalism, Pakistan and Citizenship Amendment Act.

The "real face" of the BJP has now been exposed, the chief minister said.

"I have a basic question about CAA. Is there any war going on, or refugees coming to India? Then what was the need to get CAA passed by conducting Parliament proceedings till midnight? What was their aim? They only wanted to give a divisive message," Nath alleged.

Senior RJD leader Manoj Jha on Tuesday said the biggest message from the Delhi Assembly polls is for the BJP that "poisonous" campaign and statements will not work.

He said the message has also gone out to Bihar where assembly polls are due next year, and to the rest of the country.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had contested the Delhi election on four seats in alliance with the Congress. The alliance was staring at a massive defeat in the national capital.

"We are not at all disappointed, people have given their mandate (for AAP). The biggest message is for the BJP that poisonous campaign and statements will not work," Jha told reporters.

"The message has also gone to Bihar and the rest of the country. Hopefully, the BJP would do course correction and ask its leaders to shun divisive politics," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly was held on Saturday.

According to the Election Commission's website, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party is leading in 58 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 12.

According to official Election Commission trends, Aam Aadmi Party leading on 58 seats and Bharatiya Janata Party leading on 12 seats

Aam Aadmi Party's Raj Kumari Dhillon leading against Bharatiya Janata Party's Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga from Hari Nagar constituency, after 5th round of counting.

I thank everyone who has expressed their confidence in Arvind Kejriwal. People want a govt that takes care of its citizens. People of Delhi have voted for development; I thank them, says Akhilesh Pati Tripathi

According to official Election Commission trends, Aam Aadmi Party leading on 56 seats and Bharatiya Janata Party leading on 14 seats

Aam Aadmi Party leading on 45 seats and Bharatiya Janata Party leading on 19 seats

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday managed to hold its ground in all the seven Lok Sabha seats of the national capital despite facing stiff competition from the BJP in the 2020 Delhi assembly polls.

Aam Aadmi Party leading on 39 seats and Bharatiya Janata Party leading on 19 seats.

Trends indicate that there is a gap between AAP-BJP, there is still time. We are hopeful. Whatever the outcome, being the State Chief I am responsible, says Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari

Bharatiya Janata Party's Kapil Mishra leading from Model Town by a margin of 98 votes; Aam Aadmi Party's Manish Sisodia leading from Patparganj by a margin of 112 votes.

Aam Aadmi Party leading on 22 seats and Bharatiya Janata Party leading on 14 seats.

Aam Aadmi Party leading on 18 seats and Bharatiya Janata Party leading on 11 seats

Congress leader Digvijay Singh has raised the EVM issue as vote counting began in Delhi. Early trends showed AAP leading, BJP in second spot with Congress a distant third.

Aam Aadmi Party leading on 7 seats and Bharatiya Janata Party leading on 6 seats

Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Rajinder Nagar Raghav Chadha at a counting center in Gole Market.

Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj assembly constituency Manish Sisodia and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Ravi Negi at Akshardham counting centre

Counting of votes polled in the high-stakes Delhi Assembly election began on Tuesday morning amid tight security at various centres set up to carry out the exercise.

Exit polls have predicted a big win for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, but the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders maintained that the surveys would fall flat.

The counting began at 8 am and will be held in multiple rounds, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh said.

"Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place. The exercise is being carried out as per the laid-down procedures of the Election Commission," Singh said.

Tight security arrangements have been put in place at various centres across Delhi, he said.

"The postal ballots will be counted first till around 8.30 am and then the votes cast through electronic voting machines will be counted," the senior official said.

"The counting centres are spread across 21 locations, spanning the 70 constituencies. Each centre has several counting halls, equal to the number of constituencies falling in that district," he said.

Each EVM consists of a ballot unit (BU), a controls units (CU) and a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT.) After counting of votes through CUs from every assembly constituency, five VVPATs will be randomly selected and they will be counted, the official said.

The counting centres are located across 11 districts, including at CWG Sports Complex in east Delhi, NSIT Dwarka in west Delhi, Meerabai Institute of Technology and G B Pant Institute of Technology in southeast Delhi, Sir CV Raman ITI, Dheerpur in central Delhi, and Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Bawana in north Delhi.

The election, largely seen as a battle between the AAP and the BJP, was held on Saturday, sealing the fate of 672 candidates -- 593 men and 79 women.

Nearly 24 hours after the polling ended in Delhi, the Election Commission on Sunday announced that the final voter turnout was 62.59 per cent, five per cent less than 2015, and asserted that it followed the laid down process to compile data, after the AAP questioned the "delay".

There were 13,780 polling booths where every vote was accounted for by the presiding officers, which is a time-consuming exercise, Sandeep Saxena, senior deputy election commissioner, said at a press conference on Sunday.

Over 1.47 crore people were eligible to vote in the Delhi polls, including 2.33 lakh in the age group of 18-19.

The turnout in the 2015 Assembly polls stood at 67.47 per cent.

The AAP had routed rival parties in the last Assembly polls, bagging 67 seats while the BJP was reduced to mere three seats and the Congress had drawn a blank.

I am not nervous. I am confident that it will be a good day for BJP. We are coming to power in Delhi today. Don't be surprised if we win 55 seats, says Manoj Tiwari, BJP Delhi Chief:

An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporter reaches Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence with his children. Counting for all 70 assembly seats in Delhi to begin at 8 am.

Counting of votes polled in the high-stakes Delhi Assembly elections is set to begin at 8am on Tuesday, with exit polls predicting a big win for the ruling AAP even as BJP leaders maintained that the surveys will fall flat.

Strong rooms spread across the city storing the EVMs are being heavily guarded, with a "three-layer security ring", Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh told PTI.

"We are all geared up for the counting tomorrow and elaborate security arrangements have been put in place. The exercise will be carried out as per the laid-down procedures of the Election Commission," he said.

The inner-most security layer, near the strong rooms, is that of the paramilitary, followed by armed policemen and then police personnel forming the outermost layer, he added.

Tight security arrangements have also been put in place at various centres across the national capital.

The curiosity among people to know the outcome of the elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly has heightened post-exit polls, that has forecast a big win for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

BJP leaders have, however, maintained that the exit poll results that predicted its defeat in the Delhi polls will "fail" as the surveys did not take into account the votes polled in the evening.

The election, largely seen as a battle between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party, which went aggressive during the high-octane campaign was held on Saturday, sealing the fate of 672 candidates -- 593 men and 79 women.

Nearly 24 hours after the polling ended in Delhi, the Election Commission on Sunday announced that the final voter turnout was 62.59 per cent, five per cent less than 2015, and asserted that it followed the laid down process to compile data, after the AAP questioned the "delay".

The Delhi CEO said the counting will begin at 8 am sharp and will be held in multiple rounds.

"The postal ballots will be counted first till 8.30 am and then the votes cast through EVMs will be counted," he said.

"The CUs (controls units) of the EVMs will be transported tomorrow morning to the counting centres before the beginning of the exercise. The centres are spread across 21 locations, spanning the 70 constituencies. Each centre will have several counting halls, equal to the number of constituencies falling in that district," Singh said.

Each EVM consists of a ballot unit (BU), a controls units (CU) and a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT.) From every assembly constituency, five VVPATs will be randomly selected and they will be counted, he said.

The counting centres are located across the 11 districts, including at CWG Sports Complex in East Delhi, NSIT Dwarka in West Delhi, Meerabai Institute of Technology and G B Pant Institute of Technology in Southeast Delhi, Sir CV Raman ITI, Dheerpur in Central Delhi, and Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Bawana in North Delhi.

There will be 33 counting observers, officials said.

There were 13,780 polling booths where every vote was accounted for by the presiding officers which is a time-consuming exercise, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena said at a press conference on Sunday.

Critical and vulnerable polling locations, numbered 545 and spanned 3,843 booths.

In view of the ongoing anti-CAA protest in Shaheen Bagh, the Delhi CEO's Office had put all five polling stations in the area under the "critical" category.

Security personnel kept guard at strong rooms storing electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The Delhi chief electoral officer, a day ahead of the polls, had said all EVMs were tested and they were "foolproof and non-tamperable".

Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP sought to retain power on development plank, against the BJP that ran an aggressive campaign centred around the issues of anti-CAA protests and nationalism.

Most exit polls also predicted that the Congress is unlikely to open its account even this time in Delhi, which it ruled from 1998 to 2013.

Looking to capture power after 22 years, the BJP had mounted one of the most aggressive campaigns in the Delhi Assembly polls, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading the saffron charge on its planks of Hindutva and nationalism, and its strident opposition to Shaheen Bagh protests.

The issue often dominated the political discourse during the campaign, with many BJP leaders targeting the AAP, and the Congress, accusing them of "misleading people" holding anti-CAA protests in Delhi.

A section of voters on Saturday claimed that the prolonged street agitation demanding revocation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was "not an issue in the beginning of the campaign" but "political parties had slowly turned it into one".

Ballimaran constituency recorded the highest voter turnout of 71.6 per cent among all the 70 assembly seats in the national capital, while Delhi Cantonment brought up the rear in polling percentage, according to data shared by officials on Sunday.

Okhla constituency recorded 58.84 per cent. Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar fall in Okhla assembly constituency, where hectic polling had taken place till late afternoon.

Shaheen Bagh has been the epicentre of anti-CAA protests in Delhi, running into over 50 days now.

Over 1.47 crore people were eligible to vote in the Delhi polls, including 2,32,815 in the age group of 18-19.

The turnout in the 2015 Assembly polls stood at 67.47 per cent.

The AAP had routed rival parties bagging 67 seats and the BJP was reduced to mere three seats, while the Congress had drawn a blank.