Members of a family showing their inked fingers after casting votes at a polling booth in Ballimaran ward during MCD by-elections in New Delhi on Sunday, May 15, 2016. (Press Trust of India photo)
Nearly 46 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the high-stake MCD bypolls for 13 wards today, being billed as a litmus test for popularity of the AAP government even as BJP and Congress put a stiff fight in Delhi.
Braving scorching sun, voters queued up since early morning in the wards falling under three corporations - SDMC (7), NDMC (4) and EDMC (2).
"45.9 per cent of the 6,68,870 voters exercised their franchise in the bypolls which were held peacefully," an election official said.
BJP and Congress both exuded confidence of an impressive performance, while AAP hoped to replicate its Assembly polls magic in its maiden outing at the civic hustings.
Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay claimed that "based on grass-roots feedback, BJP is likely to be the top performer in today's civic by-polls."
Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said "the enthusiastic manner in which the people of Delhi came out to vote clearly showed that they were unhappy with the AAP government and the BJP-ruled MCD."
He said the results of these bypolls would provide a "big surprise" as the Congress party would be making "huge gains" in it.
Convener of Delhi AAP Dilip Pandey said that the party was "very optimistic and hopeful" that the "hard work" of its volunteers will yield "good results".
He, however, did not agree with suggestions that the results of the by-polls will be a test of popularity of the AAP government, saying it was a "local" affair.
BJP alleged that some state election staff "favoured" the ruling AAP leaders.
Police said no untoward incident was reported, except a commotion reported outside a polling station in Ballimaran, which was controlled.
"One EVM in Ballimaran ward did not function in the beginning of polling, but by 8:30 am it was replaced," Delhi State Election Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said.
"People continued to queue up at Bhati ward even till 6 pm as the authorities allowed people to vote who had entered the polling stations till 5 pm," a Delhi State Election Commission official said.
Counting of votes will be held on May 17.
The Bhati ward recorded the highest voting percentage of 64.36, while Matiala registered the lowest of 33 per cent, an election commission official said.
In Ballimaran the voter turnout was recorded at 57.6 per cent, while in Jhilmil it was 53.72 per cent, Nawada 53.49 per cent, Wazirpur 53 per cent, Khichripur 51.38 per cent and Tekhand 51.12 per cent.
The voting percentage in other wards was relatively less with Shalimar Bagh (North) registering 49.82 per cent, Nanakpura 43.65 per cent, Vikas Nagar 42.82 per cent, Quamaruddin Nagar 40.63 per cent and Munirka 36.39 per cent.
"Total of 3,06,990 votes were polled in the by-elections for the 13 wards," said the official.
The Election Commission in a statement said according to information from the police, 78 unlicensed pistols and 126 unlicensed cartridges were seized during campaigning period May 1-14.
Also, there were 18 incidents of violence but these were not of grievous nature and nine persons were injured in these incidents.
A total of 257 banners, 246 posters, 132 hoardings were and 19 wall writings were erased for violation of model code of conduct. One FIR were lodged for violation of the code of conduct.
Under the Excise Act, a total of 36,545 quarters of liquor and 192 full bottles of liquor were seized. 96 cans of liquor were also seized.
54 FIRs were registered and 52 persons arrested, while 18 vehicles were seized for violations under Excise Act, said the statement.