Women Voters Take Center Stage in Delhi Elections, Outnumber Men in Several Constituencies
08 FEB 2025
In a striking shift, women voters in Delhi turned up in record numbers for the 2025 Assembly elections, surpassing male turnout in over half the constituencies.
The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections witnessed a notable rise in female voter participation, marking a shift in electoral dynamics. The overall female turnout stood at 60.92 percent, slightly edging past the male turnout of 60.21 percent. In 41 out of the 70 constituencies, women outvoted men, a trend that aligns with national patterns seen in states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Key constituencies where women voters outnumbered men include Okhla, where female turnout was higher by 5.73 percentage points, followed by Burari at 1.78 points, Adarsh Nagar at 1.69 points, and Timarpur at 0.64 points. However, not all constituencies saw an increase. Matia Mahal recorded the lowest female turnout compared to male voters, with a gap of 5.08 percent.
When compared to the 2020 elections, female voter turnout showed mixed trends. Some constituencies, like Badli, recorded a marginal increase of 0.40 percentage points, while others, including Narela, Timarpur, and Adarsh Nagar, saw a decline of two to four percentage points. The reasons behind these variations remain open to analysis, with political campaigns, local governance, and social factors playing potential roles.
Women outside a polling station in Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid area on Wednesday. (PC: Amit Mehra)
Women now form 45 percent of Delhi's electorate, amounting to roughly 71 lakh voters. Their rising participation has reshaped political strategies, with parties prioritizing policies targeted at women. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had successfully leveraged its free travel for women scheme in 2020 to secure a second term, while its Rs 1,000 per month scheme for women in Punjab contributed to a sweeping victory in 2022. Similarly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has introduced direct cash transfer schemes in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra, while the Congress rolled out a financial support plan for women in Karnataka.
With polling numbers indicating a growing influence of women voters, political observers are keenly watching whether this will translate into decisive electoral shifts. The question remains whether the AAP will retain its female voter base through existing welfare measures or if the BJP’s similar strategies in other states will impact the electorate in Delhi. As results approach, the role of women in shaping electoral outcomes has never been more apparent.
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