13 years ago
Are the Delhi civic polls a vote against corruption?As BJP sweeps MCD polls, party chief Nitin Gadkari calls it a victory against Congress' corruption. But what do these polls really tell us?
MCD election results: Delhi votes BJP back to powerThe BJP has retained control over Delhi's municipality - it has won all the three new civic bodies carved out of the Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD). Overall, the BJP has won 138 of the 272 wards; the Congress has won 78, a gain of 11 over the last time. This is the first municipal election after the MCD was divided.
Accept Delhi civic poll results with 'good grace': PMPrime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the Delhi civic poll results in which the Congress suffered defeat should be accepted with "good grace".
Anna Hazare: This is a result of not bringing the Jan Lokpal Bill . The Congress also lost in UP, Punjab and now in the MCD elections. The Congress should learn from this
In complete contrast to the mood outside the BJP office, Ms Dikshit's residence wears a deserted look.
MCD results will reflect in Assembly polls: Nitin Gadkari"This election has boosted the morale of the party cadre who worked very hard to ensure this victory," said Gadkari.
Highlights of what Nitin Gadkari said:
- This election has boosted the morale of the party cadre who worked very hard to ensure this victory.
- Whatever happens in Delhi is reflective of the mood of the nation.
- In Delhi civic polls, we have had majority in all 3 zones
- BJP has done a good job and the public has supported us
- Issues of price rise, corruption and the anger over it has come out this time against UPA
- Whatever has happened in Delhi will show what the turn of events will be like in the coming years
- The trends that we have seen in Punjab, Goa and other states show that people are frustrated about the issues and this reflects on elections. We will work towards this and the public has instilled faith in us.
- We have received support in Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha also. In the coming elections, we will see a change of trends.
- In Punjab, we never saw the same party coming to power but we saw BJP coming in again.
- In Delhi polls, our self-confidence has increased.
MCD polls: Sheila Dikshit has failed, says Arti MehraSpeaking to NDTV, former Delhi Mayor and BJP leader Arti Mehra says the people of Delhi have rejected Congress because of issues like price rise, water, sewerage and electricity.
Meanwhile, a treat at the Mysore cafe nearby awaits reporters.
And the celebrations outside the BJP office get grander.
The mood outside the Congress office is sombre. The Congress, though trailing, has made significant gains. Also read: We see MCD polls as civic polls, nothing else: Congress
BJP leader Nitin Gadkari to address the media at 2:00 pm at the BJP office. Watch out for live updates here.
Congratulations to fellow party workers & voters of Delhi for BJP's wonderful performance in MCD elections.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 17, 2012
BJP workers dance to the beat of dhols outside the party office in Delhi. At 11.45 am, the BJP was leading in 125 of the 272 wards.
The flags are starting to come out at the Delhi BJP office
The cameras are all flocking to the Delhi BJP office now but the supporters have still not arrived.
Early celebrations in Shahdra in east Delhi as BJP workers pose with victory signs.
If the smile on the face of Mr Malhotra is anything to go by, things are surely looking up for the BJP at MCD elections.
Some action building up outside the BJP office in the Capital. First reaction from BJP leader V K Malhotra this morning;
"Anti-incumbency was against the Congress govt in Delhi and the Centre. Trifurcation of MCD has not helped Congress get any political advantage. Last time , the BJP polled more votes in assembly and general election than the MCD elections, yet we lost . This time we hope things will be different."
"Anti-incumbency was against the Congress govt in Delhi and the Centre. Trifurcation of MCD has not helped Congress get any political advantage. Last time , the BJP polled more votes in assembly and general election than the MCD elections, yet we lost . This time we hope things will be different."
Not the usual throng of reporters outside the BJP office yet. Last chance perhaps for the handful of reporters there to take a small detour to the Mysore cafe nearby for a quick breakfast of idli, vada and filter kaapi!
On the sidelines;
So just how many people knew the name of the candidate they voted for in Sunday's municipal elections in the national capital? It seems very few, at least in the upper and middle class colonies and societies.
Many in these colonies either voted for Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit or were die-hard Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters and were not bothered about the candidates.
"I don't know who the candidates are. I just know that I am voting for Sheila. She has single handedly changed the face of Delhi," said a homemaker in Delhi.
Also see;
So just how many people knew the name of the candidate they voted for in Sunday's municipal elections in the national capital? It seems very few, at least in the upper and middle class colonies and societies.
Many in these colonies either voted for Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit or were die-hard Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters and were not bothered about the candidates.
"I don't know who the candidates are. I just know that I am voting for Sheila. She has single handedly changed the face of Delhi," said a homemaker in Delhi.
Also see;
At 9:15 am, the BJP was leading in 60 seats against the Congress at 46.
The BJP, which has 164 councilors in the undivided MCD against Congress' 67 and BSP's 17, harped on the alleged corruption by Ms Dikshit's government, while the Congress targeted the saffron party on its "inefficient and corrupt" administration in MCD.
The BJP, which has 164 councilors in the undivided MCD against Congress' 67 and BSP's 17, harped on the alleged corruption by Ms Dikshit's government, while the Congress targeted the saffron party on its "inefficient and corrupt" administration in MCD.
This is the first time that the civic body has been trifurcated into three separate bodies - one each for North, South and East Delhi - to ensure better administration of the city.
Delhi voted for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections on Sunday that saw arch-rivals the Congress and the BJP in a pitched electoral battle to control the prestigious civic body.
BJP, which won the polls in 2007 with 164 seats in the 272-member body, is hoping to retain power for a third term.
The Congress won just 67 seats in the 2007 polls and hopes to better its performance. "Not a referendum on the government as the elections are being fought on local issues," said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Delhi goes for Assembly polls next year, in which Ms Dikshit will seek a record fourth term.
The Congress won just 67 seats in the 2007 polls and hopes to better its performance. "Not a referendum on the government as the elections are being fought on local issues," said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Delhi goes for Assembly polls next year, in which Ms Dikshit will seek a record fourth term.
The MCD elections, fought mostly on local issues like water, electricity, drainage and parking, remain a high-stake election for the two national parties. It's considered as a semifinal ahead of Assembly elections next year.
Delhi will know who will rule its three newly created municipal corporations as counting of votes gets underway, an exercise which will be watched by Congress and BJP with bated breath.
Counting of votes for 272 wards will take place in 33 centres across the capital amid tight security and all results are expected to come in by 3 pm. LIVE RESULTS: TRACK YOUR WARD HERE
Counting of votes for 272 wards will take place in 33 centres across the capital amid tight security and all results are expected to come in by 3 pm. LIVE RESULTS: TRACK YOUR WARD HERE
Busy day for Municipal Corporation of Delhi helpline staff on poll dayIt was a busy day for the staff attending calls at the helpline for the municipal polls Sunday, the day when voters elected 272 councillors.
Delhi civic polls: Facts at a glanceHere are some quick facts on the elections held on Sunday to the trifurcated Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
Delhi votes to pick trifurcated civic bodyThe national capital voted on Sunday to pick a new team for its trifurcated civic body, with more people coming out to vote this election compared to last time. 55 per cent polling was recorded till 5.30 pm, according to Chief Electoral Officer Rakesh Mehta.
East Delhi saw the highest voter turnout while south Delhi recorded the lowest, says official.
According to official estimates, the polling percentage is around 55-58 % till about 5 pm.
Voters wait for their turn at a polling booth in Jafrabad.
Elderly 'dabanggs' exercise their votesExercising your democratic right may mean negotiating cumbersome queues, but there was no dearth of enthusiasm today among the not-so-young 'Dabanggs' for whom their vote is a responsibility towards the nation.
- Around 20 per cent voting recorded till noon. Other than voting machines malfunctioning in few places, no other untoward incident was reported. Read more...
Steady flow of voters in East Delhi
Delhi Congress chief JP Aggarwal casts his vote in Chandni Chowk.
Corruption not a big issue in Delhi civic polls, says Lt General Tejender SinghSpeaking to NDTV, Lieutenant General Tejender Singh said that basic civic amenities are the main issue during civic polls.
Finally, some crowds at the Gandhinagar polling booth.
- Congress politician Dr A K Walia cast his vote in Laxminagar Delhi
- After casting his vote, state BJP chief Vijendra Gupta asked people to come out and exercise their voting right
- Voting machine out of order at Majnu ka Tilla polling station. Ruckus outside police station
More policemen than voters at polling stations in South Delhi, says NDTV's Alok Pandey
Expecting higher voter turnout than last year: State Election CommissionerThe election commision has spent around 20 crore rupees on advertisement campaigns to improve voter turnout. SEC Rakesh Mehta speaks to NDTV.
Congress-BJP face-off in Delhi civic polls today; over 2,400 candidates in frayThe municipal elections are considered as a semi-final ahead of next year's Assembly polls.
