Synopsis
On February 5, the voting for the new Delhi Assembly took place peacefully, achieving a turnout of 57.70% by 5 p.m. The AAP is aiming for its fourth consecutive win, while the BJP is making a strong attempt to regain power after a lengthy absence.Key Takeaways
- Voting in Delhi Assembly elections reached a turnout of 57.70%.
- The AAP is looking for a fourth consecutive win.
- The BJP is attempting to return to power after 1998.
- Allegations of bogus voting were prevalent during the polls.
- Voter turnout varied across constituencies, with Mustafabad leading at 66.68%.
New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) Voting to select a new 70-member Assembly for Delhi proceeded smoothly on Wednesday, achieving a turnout of 57.70 per cent by 5 p.m. The ruling AAP is aiming for a fourth consecutive victory, while the BJP is striving to reclaim power for the first time since 1998.
As voter participation began to increase following a slow start, allegations of violations of the model code emerged after an incident at a polling station in Seelampur, where a fraudulent voter was apprehended while attempting to vote under another person's name. This event took place at Aryan Public School, according to Booth Level Officer Gayatri.
BJP candidate Anil Gaur from the constituency accused the Congress and AAP of smuggling in 300-400 fake voters from Uttar Pradesh.
Police Special Commissioner D.C. Srivastava confirmed receiving complaints regarding attempted fraudulent voting, stating, "Two individuals have been detained on allegations of casting false votes. The situation is under investigation."
By 5 p.m., the Mustafabad constituency had the highest voter turnout at 66.68 per cent, closely followed by Seelampur with 66.41 per cent.
The New Delhi constituency, represented by AAP leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, recorded a turnout of 54.27 per cent by 5 p.m. Other significant results included Greater Kailash at 52 per cent, Rajinder Nagar at 57.88 per cent, Patel Nagar at 54.63 per cent, R.K. Puram at 51.81 per cent, and Delhi Cantonment at 57 per cent.
Chief Minister Atishi's constituency showed a turnout of 51.81 per cent by 5 p.m., while former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's Jungpura seat recorded 55.23 per cent.
Additional turnout figures showed Sangam Vihar at 57.41 per cent, Badarpur at 54.51 per cent, Tughlakabad at 53 per cent, Okhla at 52.77 per cent, Kasturba Nagar at 51.70 per cent, Malviya Nagar at 52.07 per cent, Chhatarpur at 60.53 per cent, Ambedkar Nagar at 56.98 per cent, Deoli at 56.8 per cent, and Mehrauli at 50.59 per cent.
In Central Delhi, turnout in Matia Mahal was 61.40 per cent, Ballimaran at 59.56 per cent, Burari at 56.16 per cent, Sadar Bazar at 57.06, Timarpur at 53.29 per cent, Karol Bagh at 47.40 per cent, and Chandni Chowk at 52.76 per cent.
In West Delhi, turnout figures included Janakpuri at 59.28 per cent, Rajouri Garden at 58.96 per cent, Madipur at 58.13 per cent, Hari Nagar at 57.92 per cent, Moti Nagar at 55.21 per cent, Nangloi Jat at 56.20 per cent, and Tilak Nagar at 56.65 per cent.
AAP's Sisodia accused opposing parties of bribing voters, a claim the police deemed ‘unsubstantiated’.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha reported that their polling agents faced difficulties accessing several booths in the New Delhi constituency.
AAP MP Sandeep Pathak brought attention to sluggish voting in certain areas, indicating the party has raised this concern with the Election Commission.
Union Minister Harsh Malhotra alleged that the AAP is resorting to intimidation tactics and financial incentives on the election's eve, stating, "They are seeking to create a chaotic atmosphere out of fear of a significant defeat."
On the eve of the election, Delhi Police confiscated Rs 23.76 lakh, six illegal firearms, and 4,119 litres of illicit liquor, as reported by a police official.
Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal and his wife walked to their polling site, pushing their wheelchair-bound parents along the way.
Kejriwal's BJP rival Parvesh Verma performed a religious ritual by the Yamuna before casting his vote with his family at the Nirman Bhawan booth.
Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit voted at a booth on Rahim Khan Road and later assisted family members of the Gandhi family to their respective polling places.
The 2020 Delhi Assembly election saw a turnout of 62.82 per cent, which was 4.65 per cent lower than the 67.47 per cent recorded in 2015. The turnout in 2013 was 66.02 per cent, a significant increase of 8.42 per cent compared to 57.6 per cent in 2008.
In the 2020 election, the AAP secured 62 out of 70 seats with a vote share of 53.57 per cent. The BJP won 8 seats with a 38.51 per cent share, while the Congress garnered 4.26 per cent and others received 3.66 per cent of votes.
