Around 50 per cent voting was recorded on Sunday in the election to the 250 municipal wards in Delhi, with main rivals BJP and AAP claiming victory in the high-stakes contest. In the high-stakes polls for greater control in the national capital, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is looking to wrest power from the BJP which is eyeing its fourth consecutive tenure at the civic body. The Congress, which has suffered a back-to-back drubbing in the national capital since 2015 in parliamentary, assembly, and municipal corporations polls, will try to win back some ground.
Here are the Highlights for the MCD Elections:
Around 50 per cent voting was recorded on Sunday in the election to the 250 municipal wards in Delhi, with main rivals BJP and AAP claiming victory in the high-stakes contest.
साफ़-स्वच्छ और सुंदर दिल्ली बनाने के लिए आज मतदान है, नगर निगम में एक भ्रष्टाचार मुक्त सरकार बनाने के लिए मतदान है।
- Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 4, 2022
सभी दिल्लीवासियों से मेरी अपील- दिल्ली नगर निगम में एक ईमानदार और काम करने वाली सरकार बनाने के लिए आज अपना वोट डालने ज़रूर जाएँ।
Speaking to reporters at the Yamuna Vihar polling booth in Subhash Mohalla ward, the BJP MP alleged this was a conspiracy by the Delhi government.
The BJP can't ask for votes for the Delhi civic polls based on the work they have done in 15 years, said senior AAP leader Atishi. Read here.
Childcare facilities, selfie kiosks, lounges, and candies greeted voters at pink booths and model polling stations decked up to provide a relaxed voting experience in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls on Sunday.
Polling for 250 wards began at 8 am and will continue till 5:30 pm. Votes will be counted on December 7.
The Delhi State Election Commission (SEC) has set up 68 pink booths and as many model polling stations.
Angry and frustrated voters have alleged gross mismanagement in the conduct of polls for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Several voters at a polling booth in West Patel Nagar claimed they have been roaming for hours in search of the booth where they were supposed to cast their vote, only to be refused and guided to another room.
"I have been roaming with my child for over an hour, but still not getting a booth to vote. I am being directed to different booths. My wife cast her vote, but I couldn't. No one knows where to vote," says Kalu Ram, a voter.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj today cast his vote for the Delhi civic polls and said this time people will vote for making the city clean. All candidates, including those from the BJP, talk about cleanliness as they admit this has been an issue neglected over the last 15 years, said Mr Bharadwaj. "The mandate is clear from what people are saying, they're fed up with BJP."
Praveen (56), whose family brought him to the booth on a wheelchair, said, "Every vote matters".
"Everyone should come out and exercise their right. Cleanliness was the main issue on my mind when I cast my vote," he said.
Hari Om (70) arrived at the polling booth holding crutches.
A voters' turnout of 7 per cent has been recorded till 10 am in Delhi where local body elections are underway.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has reached a polling booth at Civil Lines to cast his vote, along with family.
Congress leader Alka Lamba today urged people of the national capital to vote for change in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections. The Congress leader exercised her franchise at a polling booth in Raghuveer Nagar. "I appeal to people to come out of their homes and vote. People should vote for change," she said after casting her vote.
Congress leader Ajay Maken today cast his vote at a polling booth in Rajouri Garden for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections and urged people to see the candidates and vote accordingly. "People should see the candidates and vote accordingly. Congress candidates are good and people should vote for the candidate who will be available for them after polls," he said.
"My name is neither in the voter list nor in the deleted list. My wife has voted. Officials are checking it," says Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary who arrived at a polling booth in Dallupura to cast his vote for #DelhiMCDElections pic.twitter.com/cHWtjYin5f
- ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2022
"I appeal to voters to vote while keeping in mind the necessity to end corruption and make Delhi clean. With your help, we will make Delhi clean. Only through your votes, Delhi will become clean. People ultimately want their lanes clean. BJP has failed in doing that in the last 15 years. They did negative campaigning because they had no answers to questions over what work they did."
All the markets will be closed in the national capital today, in view of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, the Chamber of Trade and Industries (CTI) informed. More details here
Nearly 1.5 crore people are eligible to vote in the 250 wards, elections to which come as the three MCDs - formed area-wise in 2011 - were reunified and the wards redrawn after the last term of the BJP ended early this year. Metro rail services have a 4 am start, two hours earlier than usual, on voting day. December 7 is result day.