Voting in single-phase Assembly elections in Delhi began at 8 am today on 8 February (Saturday). Voting will end at 6 pm. The counting of votes will take place on 11 February, (Tuesday). The tenure of the current Delhi Legislative Assembly ends on February 22. Over 1.47 crore people, including 2.08 lakh first-time voters are eligible to vote today. Of the 672 candidates in the fray, 148 are independents and 79 women.
Delhi Election 2020 Results
This year, the 70- membered Assembly polls in the National Capital will see a triangular contest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. While the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making a bid to return to power, the BJP is seeking to get its chief minister in Delhi after 20 years. The Congress, which has ruled Delhi for 15 years, is expecting a resurgence in its vote share.
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. The 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 Metro services started at 4 am on Saturday, in order to facilitate the polling personnel and others to reach their destinations on time. Trains will run with a frequency of 30 minutes till 6 am and normal services will resume thereafter.
Delhi Opinion Poll 2020
All three parties promised a better Delhi in their manifestos. AAP’s 28-point manifesto focused mostly on its earlier promises like reviving the Yamuna, justice for victims of 1984 Sikh riots, and regularisation of unauthorized colonies, etc. while talking of a Desh bhakti course in government schools and to consider keeping shops, restaurants open round the clock on the lines of Mumbai.
BJP offered a host of promises, including some freebies and Rs 10 lakh jobs, promotion of e-vehicles, availability of wheat flour to poor families at Rs 2 per kilogram.
Congress offered free electricity up to monthly consumption of 300 units, 25 percent of the budget to the environment to curb pollution.
Voters can carry any of the recognised ID cards for polling, Photo Voter Slip shall not be accepted as a standalone identification document for voting.
Who Will Win Delhi Polls?
The ID cards include EPIC (Voter ID card) passport, driving license, service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by central/state govt/PSUs/public limited companies, passbooks (with photograph issued by banks/post offices), PAN card, smart card (issued by RGI under NPR), MGNREGA job card, health insurance smart card (issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour), pension document with photo, official ID cards (issued to MPs / MLAs /MLCs) and Aadhaar card.
On the other hand, mobile phones, cameras or any other gadgets are not allowed inside polling booths.
Shades, ramps for people with disabilities, restrooms, drinking water and medical kit will be in place for voters at polling booths.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gautam Gambhir urged people to exercise their right to vote and participate in the biggest festival of democracy. Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency said that today, people of Delhi will vote for better education and future for their children.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Madhav was among the early voters and was spotted at a polling station in the Jhandewalan area, in Karol Bagh assembly constituency.
Delhi Assembly Election 2020 News Surveys
PM Modi urges youth to vote. He tweeted, “Today is the voting day for the Delhi Assembly elections. My appeal to all voters is that they participate in this festival of democracy in maximum number and create a new voting record. Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers.”
A long queue of voters was seen at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, which has been a contentious area lately.
Home Minister Amit Shah urged people to exercise their franchise and said: “I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to free Delhi from lies and vote bank politics”.
Various political leaders were seen casting their votes in their respective polling booths. Meanwhile, the voting process has not yet begun at the C10 block booth in Yamuna Vihar due to a technical issue in the EVM. Election Commission’s technical team is at the spot to solve the issue.
Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk constituency Alka Lamba slapped an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker after he allegedly commented on her son. However, a video clearly shows that Alka Lamba tried to slap him but she missed it.
Delhi Police conducted flag march from anti-CAA protest-hit Shaheen Bagh to Jamia University as voters queued up to cast their vote in these areas.
Reportedly, the media briefing by Delhi chief election officer is scheduled at 6.30 pm today.
The polling percentage till 1 pm in the Delhi Assembly election was recorded at around 32 percent. District wise polling percentage till 1 pm is:
Northwest- 32.25%
North East- 35.91%
South- 30.38%
Central- 27.84%
Southwest- 31.42%
East- 32.09%
West- 28.46%
North- 31.78%
New Delhi- 27.49%
Shahdara- 34.37%
