Delhi, the national capital of India, has witnessed a series of pivotal elections over the decades. From the early years of the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1951, through the Delhi Metropolitan Council era, and culminating in the re-established Assembly from 1993 onwards, the political landscape of the city has undergone significant transformations. Below is a comprehensive year-by-year summary of the elections, highlighting key statistics such as the number of seats contested, seats won, forfeited deposits (FD), vote shares, polling percentages, registered electors, and most importantly, each party’s strike rate (the percentage of seats won out of the seats contested).
1951: Inaugural Delhi Legislative Assembly
Total Seats: 48 (42 constituencies: 36 single-member, 6 double-member)
Polling Percentage: 58.52%
Registered Electors: 891,669
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJS (All India Bharatiya Jan Sangh)
31
5
4
21.89
16.13
INC (Indian National Congress)
47
39
0
52.09
82.98
SP (Socialist Party)
6
2
3
2.38
33.33
HMS (Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha)
5
1
4
1.32
20
IND (Independents)
78
1
63
15.90
1.28
1967: Delhi Metropolitan Council
Total Seats: 56
Party
Seats Won
Vote Share (%)*
BJS (Bharatiya Jana Sangh)
33
57.89
INC (Indian National Congress)
19
33.93
RPI (Republican Party of India)
2
3.51
IND (Independents)
2
3.51
*Exact contested seats are not listed in the original table. The strike rates above are as provided.
1972: Delhi Metropolitan Council
Total Seats: 56 (49 General, 7 SC)
Polling Percentage: 68.86%
Registered Electors: 2,068,437
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJS (Bharatiya Jana Sangh)
56
5
1
38.47
8.93
INC (Indian National Congress)
52
44
1
48.54
84.62
CPI (Communist Party of India)
4
3
0
3.86
75
NCO (Indian National Congress (Organisation))
19
2
16
1.96
10.53
IND (Independents)
104
2
99
1.96
1.92
1977: Delhi Metropolitan Council
Total Seats: 56 (47 General, 9 SC)
Polling Percentage: 55.85%
Registered Electors: 2,740,443
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
JNP (Janata Party)
56
46
1
52.50
82.14
INC (Indian National Congress)
52
10
1
36.15
19.23
1983: Delhi Metropolitan Council
Total Seats: 56 (47 General, 9 SC)
Polling Percentage: 55.29%
Registered Electors: 3,712,524
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
50
19
0
36.99
38
INC (Indian National Congress)
56
34
0
47.50
60.71
JNP (Janata Party)
37
1
34
3.66
2.70
LKD (Lok Dal)
6
2
1
4.09
33.33
1993: Re-established Delhi Legislative Assembly
Total Seats: 70 (57 General, 13 SC)
Polling Percentage: 61.75%
Registered Electors: 5,850,545
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
70
49
0
42.82
70
INC (Indian National Congress)
70
14
4
34.48
20
JD (Janata Dal)
70
4
49
12.65
5.71
IND (Independents)
766
3
762
5.92
0.39
1998
Total Seats: 70 (57 General, 13 SC)
Polling Percentage: 48.99%
Registered Electors: 8,420,141
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
67
15
2
34.02
22.39
INC (Indian National Congress)
70
52
1
47.76
74.29
JD (Janata Dal)
48
1
47
1.80
2.08
IND (Independents)
353
2
347
8.70
0.57
2003
Total Seats: 70 (57 General, 13 SC)
Polling Percentage: 53.42%
Registered Electors: 8,448,324
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
70
20
7
35.22
28.57
INC (Indian National Congress)
70
47
1
48.13
67.14
NCP (Nationalist Congress Party)
33
1
31
2.24
3.03
JD(S) (Janata Dal (Secular))
12
1
11
0.75
8.33
IND (Independents)
284
1
278
4.86
0.35
2008
Total Seats: 70 (58 General, 12 SC)
Polling Percentage: 57.58%
Registered Electors: 10,726,573
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
69
23
4
36.34
33.33
INC (Indian National Congress)
70
43
1
40.31
61.43
BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party)
70
2
49
14.05
2.86
LJP (Lok Jan Shakti Party)
41
1
39
1.35
2.44
IND (Independents)
358
1
355
3.92
0.28
2013
Total Seats: 70 (58 General, 12 SC)
Polling Percentage: 65.63%
Registered Electors: 11,936,360
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
68
31
2
33.07
45.59
INC (Indian National Congress)
70
8
11
24.55
11.43
AAP (Aam Aadmi Party)
70
28
9
29.49
40
JD(U) (Janata Dal (United))
27
1
26
0.87
3.70
SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal)
2
1
0
0.91
50
IND (Independents)
222
1
220
2.93
0.45
NOTA
70
0
70
0.63
0
2015
Total Seats: 70 (58 General, 12 SC)
Polling Percentage: 67.12%
Registered Electors: 13,313,295
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
69
3
2
32.19
4.35
INC (Indian National Congress)
70
0
62
9.65
0
AAP (Aam Aadmi Party)
70
67
0
54.34
95.71
NOTA
70
0
70
0.40
0
2020
Total Seats: 70 (58 General, 12 SC)
Polling Percentage: 62.55%
Registered Electors: 14,797,990
Party
Contested
Won
FD
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
67
8
0
38.51
11.94
INC (Indian National Congress)
66
0
63
4.26
0
AAP (Aam Aadmi Party)
70
62
0
53.57
88.57
NOTA
70
0
–
0.46
0
2025
Total Seats: 70 (details given: 12 General, 2 SC*)
Polling Percentage: 60.44%
Registered Electors: 15,537,634
Party
Contested
Won
Vote Share (%)
Strike Rate (%)
BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)
68
48
45.56
70.59
INC (Indian National Congress)
70
0
6.34
0
AAP (Aam Aadmi Party)
70
22
43.57
31.43
NOTA
70
0
0.57
0
*The table for 2025 mentions “GEN 12, SC 2” which does not sum to 70. This discrepancy is taken as provided.
Key Observations
Dominance Shifts Over Time: In the 1950s and 1960s, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) and the Indian National Congress (INC) were the main contenders. Over time, the Janata Party (JNP), later the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gained prominence.
Congress Ups and Downs: The INC enjoyed a high strike rate in several elections (notably in 1951 and 1972), yet faced severe setbacks in later years (particularly in 2015, 2020 and 2025, where it failed to secure any seat).
Rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): From its debut in 2013, AAP rapidly gained traction, achieving a remarkable 95.71% strike rate in 2015.
Significance of Strike Rate: The strike rate underscores not just how many seats a party wins, but how effectively it converts contested seats into victories. This measure reveals the efficiency of each party’s campaign and electoral strategy.
