Polling has begun in New Delhi for a critical state legislature election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aiming to wrest control of the city from Arvind Kejriwal's incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

A high-stakes electoral contest unfolded in New Delhi on Wednesday as voters began casting their ballots early in the morning, set to determine the next government for the Indian capital.

The election for the 70 assembly seats of Delhi pits the country's major political forces in a three-way battle. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), headed by anti-corruption advocate Arvind Kejriwal, faces the challenge of combating anti-incumbency after a decade of governance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs in a national coalition, is seeking a return to power in Delhi after an absence of 27 years.

Meanwhile, India’s principal opposition party, Congress, which has formed an alliance with AAP and other opposition groups to take on Modi’s BJP in the 2024 general elections, is also vying for influence in the Delhi contest against both AAP and BJP.

Voting began across the city at 7 a.m. local time (0130 UTC) and will conclude at 6 p.m. (1230 UTC), with the results set to be announced on Saturday.

In the lead-up to the election, all parties ramped up their campaigning, with roadshows, rallies, and press conferences. Both Modi and Kejriwal, despite their contrasting political stances, sought to appeal to voters with promises of improved governance, including enhancements to government schools, free electricity and health services, and a monthly allowance exceeding 2,000 rupees (€22, $23) for economically disadvantaged women.

Kejriwal took to the social media platform X, urging voters to view their vote as an investment in their children's future: "Your vote is not just a button, it is the foundation of your children's bright future. It is an opportunity to provide good schools, excellent hospitals, and a respectable life to every family."

Modi, in turn, described the election as a "festival of democracy," encouraging citizens to participate actively.

While many analysts deemed Congress's campaign underwhelming in the earlier stages, the party gained momentum in its final week, with prominent figures Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi holding 12 public meetings in an effort to galvanize support.

In the 2020 elections, AAP secured 62 seats, and Kejriwal was re-elected as the chief minister. However, his tenure has been marred by legal troubles, including his arrest in March of the previous year, a month before the national elections, over allegations of corrupt practices related to the allocation of liquor licenses.

AAP has strongly rejected the corruption allegations, accusing the Modi administration of using federal agencies to target political rivals through raids and arrests. After being granted bail by the Supreme Court in September, Kejriwal stepped down as Delhi’s chief minister, handing over the reins to former Delhi education minister Atishi Marlena Singh.

Kejriwal, in his final campaign push, expressed confidence, stating he was leaving his political fate in the hands of the public.

The vote takes place as Prime Minister Modi participates in the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant moment in the political landscape.