Delhi Assembly Polls (Photo Credit: IANS)
New Delhi:
The voting in the Delhi assembly elections ended on Saturday. Ealier today, people queued up outside polling booths to cast their ballot. Poll officials said earlier that 30.18 per cent votes were cast till 3 pm, according to ANI. Over 1.47 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise to elect a new government, with 672 candidates in the fray. Polling began at 8 am and ended at 6 pm. There are 13,750 polling booths, besides one auxiliary booth, located at 2,689 locations across Delhi.
President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife were among the early voters. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is eyeing to repeat his party's 2015 assembly performance, voted at the Rajpura Transport Authority polling station in the Civil Lines area with his family. Kejriwal, who is contesting the polls from the New Delhi seat, was accompanied by his wife Sunita and son Pulkit. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari have also voted.
ALSO READ: With Mother's Blessings And 'Vijay Tilak', Kejriwal Casts His Vote At Civil Lines Booth
Delhi Police and election machinery are on 'extra vigil' and assessing the situation all the time across the national capital. Security personnel kept guard at strong rooms storing EVMs. Election staff carried EVMs and other polling material to booths under tight supervision in all constituencies.
"The 2020 Delhi polls will be tech-driven with greater use of technology elements like mobile apps, QR codes, social media interface, seeking to enhance the experience of all categories of voters, before polling or on the voting day. And we are trying to make the best use of it," Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said.
Electors can carry smartphones at polling stations in 11 assembly constituencies for accessing QR codes from the voters' helpline app in case they have not brought the voters' slip to the booth.
ALSO READ: Alka Lamba Tries To Slap AAP Worker Over 'Indecent Remark' - Watch
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party is going into the Delhi election with the hope to repeat its stellar performance of the last assembly polls, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which bagged all seven seats here in the Lok Sabha election in May 2019, will be aiming at expanding its vote share in the national capital. The Congress is seeking to better its performance than last time when it did not bag any seat in the Assembly polls but improved its vote share in 2019 polls.
The BJP mounted its one of the most aggressive campaigns in the Delhi Assembly polls so far, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading the saffron charge fuelled by its planks of Hindutva and nationalism and its strident opposition to anti-CAA protest in Shaheen Bagh. On the other hand, the AAP tried to hard sell its development agenda, while the Congress sought to showcase its achievements during its 15-year rule under Sheila Dikshit from 1998 to 2013.
Ranbir Singh, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Delhi: Till now voter turnout is 57.06%, it is tentative data as voting is still underway at some polling booths.
55.18 % voter turn out reported from #Delhi by 6:30 PM.#DelhiElections2020 #DelhiAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/z3sgekGCG5
— Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) February 8, 2020
#DelhiElections2020: Voting underway at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi and BJP's Brahm Singh Bidhuri. pic.twitter.com/URTFL7OpJq
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
#DelhiElections2020: Voting underway at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi and BJP's Brahm Singh Bidhuri. pic.twitter.com/URTFL7OpJq
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
#Voter Turnout details from the 11 districts as yet.
Polling underway during #DelhiAssemblyPolls #DelhiElections2020 #DelhiElections pic.twitter.com/kMbn2JrwU7
— Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) February 8, 2020
Only 29.38% votes polled in Sangam Vihar, a seat that BJP ceded for NDA ally JD(U).
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on AAP alleging that he distributed money to influence voters: I had just gone to the shop to buy some stuff. The shopkeeper is a known person. It has been done to raise an issue of Bihari vs non-Bihari.
Got information that the voting process is slow. Voters had to wait for 2 hours at some places: AAP leader, Sanjay Singh.
42.70% voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 4 pm.
Vishwas Nagar is placed second in terms of voter turnout till 3pm with 46.68% turnout. Rohini Assembly constituency stands at third spot with a turnout of 45.40%
Uttam Nagar Assembly constituency has recorded 3.69% voter turnout till 3pm as per data provided by ECI. This is the lowest among all the Delhi Assembly seats. Vikaspuri has recorded a turnout of 7.87% till 3pm. Patel Nagar recorded a turnout of 15.15% till 3pm today.
Senior CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat after casting his vote at Sanchar Bhawan. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/5s1VERfUoc
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Mustafabad assembly constituency is leading with the highest voter turnout till 3pm recording a turnout of 50.01% The key candidates in Mustafabad constituency include Haji Yunus of AAP, Jagdish Pradhan of BJP & Ali Mehndi from Congress.
40.51% Voter turnout by 3:30 PM
Polling underway during #DelhiAssemblyPolls #DelhiElections2020 #DelhiPolls2020 pic.twitter.com/SAv7d9VWj2
— Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) February 8, 2020
30.18 per cent voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 3 pm, reports ANI
Former President Pranab Mukherjee cast his vote at a polling station at Kamraj lane in New Delhi Constituency.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee cast his vote at a polling station at Kamraj lane in New Delhi Constituency. #DelhiElections pic.twitter.com/l1kO0yDmq7
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Wrestler Sushil Kumar after casting his vote at a polling booth in Baprola village.
Delhi: Wrestler Sushil Kumar after casting his vote at a polling booth in Baprola village. #DelhiElection2020 pic.twitter.com/sqWobuydpS
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
"It was a nice feeling to take part in the democratic process. Everyone should exercise their right to vote; I think everyone should have access to public transport and it should be subsidized for students," says Raihan Rajiv Vadra.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra and their son Raihan Rajiv Vadra who is a first-time voter, cast their vote at booth no. 114 & 116 in Lodhi Estate.
Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra and their son Raihan Rajiv Vadra who is a first-time voter, cast their vote at booth no.114 & 116 in Lodhi Estate. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/4wUQbioglL
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
19.37 per cent voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 1 pm, reports ANI.
BJP did not create the Shaheen Bagh issue, it was created by other political parties to fulfill their political ambitions, says East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir
BJP did not create the Shaheen Bagh issue, it was created by other political parties to fulfill their political ambitions, says East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir (@gautamgambhir)#ElectionsWithNewsNation #DelhiElections2020 #DelhiPolls2020
Track updates: https://t.co/zeKQbSUb56 pic.twitter.com/bxkaQhho9F
— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) February 8, 2020
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora after casting his vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency.
Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora after casting his vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. Delhi CM & sitting MLA from the constituency,Arvind Kejriwal is contesting from here. BJP's Sunil Yadav & Congress's Romesh Sabharwal fielded against the CM. pic.twitter.com/F3RFJ3MAu5
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and his wife Neelu Chandra cast their vote at polling booth number 99 in New Moti Bagh.
Delhi: Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and his wife Neelu Chandra cast their vote at polling booth number 99 in New Moti Bagh. #DelhiElections pic.twitter.com/Chy0Ttt0yo
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
About 15.68 per cent voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 12 noon.
Coming out in Lamba’s support, ex-AAP leader Dr Kumar Vishvas tweeted, “Alka Lamba is a warrior. Her self-respect is her victory,” Without taking name, Dr Vishvas also hit out at the AAP leadership. (FULL STORY HERE)
Senior BJP leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani cast their vote at a polling booth on Aurangzeb lane.
Delhi: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani cast their vote at a polling booth on Aurangzeb lane. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/pazf3j7d53
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Congress candidate Alka Lamba tries to slap an AAP worker over 'indecent comment'.
#WATCH Delhi: Scuffle breaks out between AAP and Congress workers near Majnu ka Teela, Congress candidate Alka Lamba tries to slap an AAP worker. AAP leader Sanjay Singh has said the party will complain to Election Commission. #DelhiElections2020 (note: abusive language) pic.twitter.com/l5VriLUTkF
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Manoj Tiwari's comment: "Delhi ke CM ko itni achoot bhavna se dekhti hai BJP? Is se zyada gira hua aur ghatiya bayan ho nahi sakta. Abhi bhi aap us yug mein hain jahan daliton ko mandir mein pravesh nahi diya jata tha.Shri Ram bhi ab BJP ko nahi bacha sakte."
Manoj Tiwari, BJP: "Woh (Arvind Kejriwal) pooja karne gaye the ya Hanuman Ji ko ashudh karne gaye the? Ek haath se joota utaarke,ussi haath se mala lekar...kya kar diya? Jab nakli bhakt aate hain na toh yahi hota hai. Maine pandit ji ko bataya, bahut baar Hanuman Ji ko dhoye hain."
About 6.96 per cent voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 11:00 am, reports ANI
Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi cast her vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi. She was accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who will cast her vote at booth no. 114 & 116 at Lodhi Estate. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached polling booth number 81 and 82 at Aurangzeb Road to cast his vote.
Delhi: Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi has cast her vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. She was accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who will cast her vote at booth no.114 & 116 at Lodhi Estate. #DelhiElections https://t.co/oYfsfFfteh pic.twitter.com/VJMO7P7CjO
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at polling booth number 81&82 at Aurangzeb Road to cast his vote in #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/FtDxzMRRys
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
110-year-old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi, casts her vote for at SDMC Primary School, Chittaranjan Park in Greater Kailash assembly constituency.
110-yrs-old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi, casts her vote for #DelhiElections2020, at SDMC Primary School, Chittaranjan Park in Greater Kailash assembly constituency https://t.co/AVBeQmkrpc pic.twitter.com/sqGFT1kyHy
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Singh cast their vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency.
Delhi: Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Singh cast their vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. pic.twitter.com/8uQVVv04Xr
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Voters queue outside a polling booth in Jamia Nagar as polling for legislative assembly elections is underway.
Delhi: Voters queue outside a polling booth in Jamia Nagar as polling for legislative assembly elections is underway pic.twitter.com/d8vqZVd0Xv
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind cast their votes at Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, President’s Estate.
Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind cast their votes at Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, President’s Estate. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/SyOBmEesOS
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
About 4.33 per cent voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 10.00 am, reports ANI.
An election officer deployed at a polling booth in Babarpur Primary School in Northeast Delhi has died, according to Delhi Police.
Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency, Manish Sisodia and his wife Seema Sisodia cast their vote at MCD school in Pandav Nagar.
Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency, Manish Sisodia and his wife Seema Sisodia cast their vote at MCD school in Pandav Nagar. pic.twitter.com/sAYFidHdAG
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Voting underway in Delhi, visuals from a polling booth in MCD primary school in Shakarpur. A bridegroom also cast his vote with his family.
Voting underway in Delhi, visuals from a polling booth in MCD primary school in Shakarpur. A bridegroom also cast his vote with his family. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/KiUvTfhFw6
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
An estimated 1.77% people turned out to vote since polling began across the 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi at 8am on Saturday, according to data from the Election Commission of India.
"I appeal to all, specially to the women, to cast their votes today. I am hopeful that people of Delhi will vote on the basis of the work done. I am hopeful that Aam Aadmi Party will come back to power for the third time," says Arvind Kejriwal after voting.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his family casts his vote at a polling booth in Civil Lines.
Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his family casts his vote at a polling booth in Civil Lines; BJP's Sunil Yadav & Congress's Romesh Sabharwal are contesting against him from New Delhi constituency. pic.twitter.com/oistLxaoDb
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leaves for casting his vote. BJP's Sunil Yadav and Congress's Romesh Sabharwal are contesting against him from New Delhi constituency.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leaves for casting his vote.BJP's Sunil Yadav& Congress's Romesh Sabharwal are contesting against him from New Delhi constituency. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/2N14o8KyCi
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Rajinder Nagar, Raghav Chadha casts his vote at a polling station in Rajinder Nagar.
Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Rajinder Nagar, Raghav Chadha casts his vote at a polling station in Rajinder Nagar; Congress's Rocky Tuseed and BJP's RP Singh are contesting from the assembly constituency here. pic.twitter.com/SGSKe0AJTm
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Meenakshi Lekhi casts her vote at a polling station in South Extension Part-II.
#DelhiElections2020 : Bharatiya Janata Party MP Meenakshi Lekhi casts her vote at a polling station in South Extension Part-II. Delhi pic.twitter.com/vytVmaaWeU
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
EVM is also not functioning at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth number 114, New Delhi constituency, reports ANI
Congress candidate from the Chandni Chowk assembly constituency, Alka Lamba casts her vote at polling booth number 161 at Tagore Garden Extension; She is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP's Suman Gupta.
Delhi: Congress candidate from the Chandni Chowk assembly constituency, Alka Lamba casts her vote at polling booth number 161 at Tagore Garden Extension; She is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP's Suman Gupta. pic.twitter.com/tRVk3Y6r2z
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Voting has not yet begun at C10 block booth in Yamuna Vihar due to a technical issue in the EVM. Election Commission's technical team at the spot: ANI
Delhi LG Anil Baijal and his wife Mala Baijal cast their vote at a polling station at Greater Kailash.
Delhi: Lt Governor Anil Baijal and his wife Mala Baijal cast their vote at a polling station at Greater Kailash; AAP's sitting MLA and candidate Saurabh Bhardwaj is contesting against BJP's Shikha Rai and Congress's Sukhbir Pawar from here pic.twitter.com/mmKItjEOdl
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan along with his mother arrived at Ratan Devi Public School in Krishna Nagar to cast their votes.
Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan along with his mother arrive at Ratan Devi Public School in Krishna Nagar to cast their votes; BJP's Anil Goel and Congress's Ashok Walia contesting from here against AAP's sitting MLA and candidate SK Bagga pic.twitter.com/TUfhc4oMJ7
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
BJP MP Parvesh Verma casts his vote at a polling station in Matiala assembly constituency.
Delhi: BJP MP Parvesh Verma casts his vote at a polling station in Matiala assembly constituency; BJP and Congress have fielded Rajesh Gehlot and Sumesh Shokeen from the constituency, respectively. Gulab Singh Yadav of AAP is the current MLA and party's candidate from Matiala pic.twitter.com/u0toVZVMNX
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
A queue of voters at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh, Okhla. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi.
A queue of voters at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh, Okhla. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi and BJP's Brahm Singh Bidhuri. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/4hB60BtqGd
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has cast his vote at the polling station set up at NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent. He says, "it is basic duty of every citizen to vote. It is important to get out there and contribute."
Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has cast his vote at the polling station set up at NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent. He says, "it is basic duty of every citizen to vote. It is important to get out there and contribute." pic.twitter.com/y8quQkTS8L
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges people of Delhi to vote in large numbers in the assembly elections.
दिलà¥à¤²à¥€ विधानसà¤à¤¾ चà¥à¤¨à¤¾à¤µ के लिठआज मतदान का दिन है। सà¤à¥€ मतदाताओं से मेरी अपील है कि वे अधिक से अधिक संखà¥à¤¯à¤¾ में लोकतंतà¥à¤° के इस महोतà¥à¤¸à¤µ में à¤à¤¾à¤— लें और वोटिंग का नया रिकॉरà¥à¤¡ बनाà¤à¤‚।
Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2020
The voting for 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi begins.
Voters have started arriving at various polling station in Delhi ahead of the start of polling for Delhi assembly elections.
Delhi: Voters begin to arrive at the polling stations at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency (pic 1&2) and NDMC School of Science and Humanities (pic 3&4) at Tughlak Road; Polling for 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi to begin shortly pic.twitter.com/Y2kPnwcLcl
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Delhi: Voters start arriving at a polling station in Jhandewalan area, in Karol Bagh assembly constituency. AAP has fielded its sitting MLA Vishesh Ravi from here. BJP's Yogendra Chandolia & Congress' Gaurav Dhanak are contesting from here. Voting begins at 8 AM. #DelhiElections pic.twitter.com/Np04OiU8BE
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
"Today, people of Delhi will vote for better education and future for their children," says Manish Sisodia, Delhi deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency.
Delhi: Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency at Mayur Vihar Phase II. He says, "Today, people of Delhi will vote for better education and future for their children"; The BJP has fielded Ravi Negi from the constituency. pic.twitter.com/tdFPc1cVqJ
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
The AAP had got 54.3 per cent votes in the 2015 Assembly polls, while the BJP secured 32 per cent and the Congress bagged just 9.6 per cent of the total votes polled.
Riding on tech-savvy elements like QR codes and mobile apps, poll authorities have geared up for the polls, making tight security arrangements across the national capital and keeping an extra vigil in Shaheen Bagh and other sensitive polling areas.
In view of the ongoing anti-CAA protests in Shaheen Bagh, the Delhi CEO Office has put all five polling stations in the area under the 'critical' category, and confidence-building measures are continuously being undertaken to reassure voters, officials said. Shaheen Bagh falls in the Okhla assembly constituency. The area has become the epicentre of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the national capital and the agitation has been thrust by political parties into a poll issue.
Delhi police have deployed around 40,000 security personnel, 19,000 home guards and 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces to ensure smooth conduct of the polls.
Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said 1,47,86,382 people are eligible to vote in the Delhi polls, and 2,32,815 are in the age group of 18-19. Voters in various categories include males (81,05,236), females (66,80,277), service voters (11,608), third gender voters (869), and senior citizens (aged 80 and above) voters (2,04,830), officials said.
On Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BJP's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari paid obeisance at famous temples in the national capital. Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, along with his wife Sunita offered prayers at the famous Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place.
CP के पà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤šà¥€à¤¨ हनà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¨ मंदिर जाकर हनà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤¨ जी का आशीरà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¦ लिया। देश और दिलà¥à¤²à¥€ की तरक़à¥à¤•à¤¼à¥€ के लिठपà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤°à¥à¤¥à¤¨à¤¾ की। à¤à¤—वान जी ने कहा - “अचà¥à¤›à¤¾ काम कर रहे हो। इसी तरह लोगों की सेवा करते रहो। फल मà¥à¤ पर छोड़ दो। सब अचà¥à¤›à¤¾ होगा।”
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 7, 2020
Tiwari also visited the famous Chhatarpur and Kalkaji temples and offered prayers.
शà¥à¤°à¥€ आदà¥à¤¯ कातà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¯à¤¨à¥€ मंदिर, छतरपà¥à¤° मंदिर में माठके दरà¥à¤¶à¤¨ कर आशीरà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¦ पà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤ªà¥à¤¤ किया pic.twitter.com/YjJHIhLSVK
— Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariMP) February 7, 2020
