The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Delhi Election Watch have released a detailed analysis of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, highlighting key insights into voter turnout, vote share, and victory margins. The report reveals a decline in the average vote share of winners, with the figure dropping to 51% from 55% in 2020.
Decline in Voter Turnout and Vote Share
According to the report, the overall voter turnout in the 2025 Delhi elections was 61%, marking a slight decrease from 63% in 2020. The data also indicates that winning candidates secured a lower percentage of total votes in their constituencies compared to the previous election.
Winners’ average vote share: 51% (down from 55% in 2020).
Narrower victory margins: 27 winners (39%) secured less than 50% of total votes in their constituencies.
Criminal Background of Candidates
The ADR report also highlights the criminal background of elected representatives:
31 winners (44%) have declared criminal cases against them.
21 candidates with criminal cases secured a vote share of 50% or more.
18 winners with criminal backgrounds defeated candidates with clean records.
Among them, Aaley Mohammed Iqbal (AAP) from Matia Mahal achieved the highest victory margin in this category, securing a 50.58% margin.
Wealth Disparity Among Winners
The financial status of elected representatives remains a key factor in electoral outcomes:
61 winners (87%) are crorepatis (millionaires).
41 crorepati winners secured a vote share of more than 50%.
In contrast, only 2 out of 9 non-crorepati winners managed to achieve a vote share above 50%.
Low Representation of Women in Delhi Assembly
The representation of women in the Delhi Assembly remains low, with only 5 women among the 70 winners. However, they performed well in their constituencies:
All 5 women winners secured more than 40% of the votes.
Rekha Gupta (BJP) from Shalimar Bagh emerged as the top-performing woman candidate, winning 60% of the votes.
Performance of Re-elected MLAs
Among the 22 re-elected winners:
None secured less than 40% of the vote share.
11 winners (50%) won with more than 50% vote share.
12 re-elected candidates faced tough competition, winning with a margin of less than 10%.
NOTA Votes in Delhi Elections
A total of 94,88,376 votes were polled in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, out of which 53,738 votes (0.57%) were cast for NOTA (None of the Above). The NOTA option, introduced by the Election Commission in 2013, allows voters to reject all candidates in their constituency.
Conclusion
The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections reflect a shift in voting patterns, with a decline in winners’ average vote share and an increase in closely contested races. The influence of wealth and criminal backgrounds in electoral success remains a critical factor. Additionally, the low representation of women in the assembly highlights the need for greater political inclusivity.
For more detailed election insights, stay tuned for updates on Delhi’s political landscape.
