Delhi MCD Elections: 50 percent voting in MCD polls; both AAP, BJP claim victory

The polling stations in Bawana's Katewara village wore a deserted look as its residents boycotted the MCD elections on Sunday, alleging negligence from the civic body. 

"The whole village unanimously decided to boycott the elections. The civic body as well as the Delhi government always neglected people here, so why should we cast our votes?" said Krishna Vats, a resident of the village.

As a result, no one turned up at the polling booths in Nangal Thakran ward of Bawana assembly constituency, he said.

"Main roads are broken, drains are clogged and MCD schools are in pathetic conditions here," Vats told PTI.  

Another resident Rohit Kaushik claimed that three roads leading to the village are completely broken, because of which road accidents happen frequently in the area. 

Kaushik said despite submitting 200 to 250 written complaints to the civic body administration, no action has been taken so far. 

(PTI)
 

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.

No major glitches in electronic voting machines were reported and the voting passed off peacefully with high security observed at the 3,360 critical booths in 493 locations where more than 25,000 police personnel, nearly 13,000 home guards and 100 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed, officials said.

Several people in North-East Delhi and some other areas complained that their names were missing from the voters' lists. Anil Kumar, the Delhi Congress president, was among the people who could not vote. The BJP said it has filed a complaint with the state election commission over the missing names.

Election officials said that nearly 50 per cent polling was reported by 5.30 pm when the voting time ended. However, the figure is likely to rise as many people who reported before 5.30 pm and were queued up at the polling booths were casting their votes.

The results will be announced on December 7.

(PTI)
 

The polling percentage in Delhi MCD elections, for all 250 wards, stands at approx 50% till 5.30 PM, State Election Commission said.

Senior BJP leader and former mayor of North Delhi Avtar Singh claimed on Sunday that his party was "ahead" of its rivals in the MCD polls, and accused the AAP of making "false claims to hide its failures".

The AAP has been attacking the BJP during the campaign phase, alleging that the saffron party, which has been in power in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for the last 15 years, has "turned the city into a filthy mess" due to its "failure" in governance.

"We are asking for votes only on basis of our work. BJP running at number one right now, and we are ahead of our rivals. And, we are going to form our government after winning the polls. We were there and we will maintain our rule in the MCD," Singh claimed.
 

Sanitation, maintenance of parks and lack of parking facilities were the issues of concern for women who came out to vote in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi election on Sunday.

Over 45 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 4 pm in the high-stakes election.

Dr Rehana Parveen, a general physician who arrived at a pink booth on DDU Marg here to cast her vote, flagged the issue of garbage collection from colonies as a major concern. 

"Garbage should be collected from colonies even on a holiday or on the day of any festival. At present, garbage is usually seen lying in colonies on the day of any festival. Guests come and it becomes very embarrassing seeing our colony so dirty," she said.  

Her daughter, Hadia Fatima, who is a mechanical engineer by profession, said vehicle parking is also a major issue of concern to them.

"I have to park my vehicle on the road every day. There is always a fear that my vehicle will be stolen. There are daily fights over the parking issue and a gender bias also exists," she said.

Poonam Tyagi (53), who casted her vote at the MBS International School in Dwarka said, "The main issue is that despite clearance from societies, garbage still piles up at nook and corner of the roads. In almost every common area, you can see garbage pilled. This should be addressed," she said.

(PTI)
 

"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 Delhi MCD Elections.

Delhi State Election Commission has written to Chaudhary regarding the deletion of his name from the electoral roll. "State Election Commission, Delhi has merely adopted Electoral Roll prepared by ECI for the conduct of elections to MCD and as such the State Election Commission Delhi has no jurisdiction to make any additions or deletions. You may like to take up the matter with CEO, Delhi."

The residents of Northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri have cast their votes for peace, communal harmony and cleanliness in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections. 

The market area in Jahangirpuri which had come to a standstill in April due to clashes between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession was bustling on Sunday as people went out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. 

The clash that erupted on April 16 left eight police personnel and a local resident injured. 

Although the situation returned to normalcy months ago, the security in the market area was slightly beefed up with the deployment of police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel every 200 metres. 

The voting has concluded for the 250 wards of the Municipal Cooperation of Delhi. The final voter turnout is awaited. The voter turnout was over 45 percent till 4 pm.

The previous civic body polls in 2017 recorded 53 percent voting. The counting of votes will take place on December 7.
 

According to State Election Commission, Delhi, around 45% voter turnout was recorded in 250 wards of the MCD till 4 PM. "No untoward incident reported Voters turnout is smooth," SEC said.

Being wheelchair-bound or walking with crutches was not a deterrent for differently-abled Delhi residents who enthusiastically arrived at the polling booths on Sunday to make their vote count for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) election.

Praveen (56), whose family brought him to the booth in 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. "There are many issues in our area and I don't know whether they will be addressed. But I knew I had to ensure that my vote counts," he said.

Ramu Yadav (55), who is visually impaired, said he felt empowered casting his vote.

Kamal Kishore, who has been suffering from paralysis for 15 years, reached the polling booth in the morning. "This is a right given to us by the Constitution and we should exercise it because each vote counts," he said.

Eight-four-year-old Khulbhushan Gupta, who came in a wheelchair, said he has not missed voting in the last few years. "I feel strong and confident when I vote. It empowers me and I feel I have done my duty," he said.

(PTI)

People of Katewara village in North West district say they have boycotted MCD elections due to a lack of basic amenities like proper roads, drains in the village Till the time the authorities don't hear our grievances, we won't vote, they say.

According to State Election Commission, Delhi, around 30% voter turnout was recorded in 250 wards of the MCD till 2 PM. "No untoward incident reported Voters turnout is smooth," SEC said.

Delhi Congress president Ani Chaudhary claimed that his name has been missing from the voters' list. "I am at the polling centre where I always used to vote. But today I have not given my vote. I was officially told that my vote has been shifted. But where it has shifted, there is no answer. I called the Election Commission’s office and lodged my complaint there. They finally said that I cannot cast my vote," Chaudhary said.

"To avoid defeat, BJP first comes up with anti-Dalit-minority delimitation, when we go to court against it, Arvind Kejriwal remains silent. Today, when we are in the public court, the public is also being prevented from taking a decision," the Congress leader tweeted.

BJP's IT in-charge Amit Malviya launched fresh salvos at Arvind Kejriwal saying, "Kejriwal’s desperate and frequent tweets on MCD election betray his nervousness… After pushing Delhi to the brink with misgovernance and apathy, he knows his credibility is in the dumps. Delhi's neo-middle class is voting for a new home and respect which only the BJP can provide."

A 97-year-old voter Viran Chopra cast vote in Delhi's Priyadarshini Vihar.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation & Steel and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia urged Delhiites to vote for the MCD elections. "First voting - then refreshments! It is an appeal to all Delhiites to exercise their franchise today for building a comfortable Delhi and choose a progressive party and representative."

After casting his, cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir said that for 15 years the BJP in MCD has worked for the people of Delhi. When asked about the seats BJP is getting in the MCD elections, Gambhir said, "I am not an astrologer like Delhi CM. I can tell you the truth. The truth is that for the last 15 years we have done work for the people of Delhi. We did not do false promotions. The MCD fights with Dengue but Delhi CM takes credit for it. They did not go to landfill areas in the 8 years and now they are saying they will end the landfill."

In a video shared by the AAP, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh urged Delhi voters to vote for the honest people and the honest party. "Today you are going to cast your valuable vote. When you will go for the polling, vote for the honest people and party.  Don’t vote for those who abuse, do hooliganism and spread garbage in Delhi. Give votes to those who will clean Delhi," Sanjay Singh said.

According to the SEC Delhi, brisk polling is going on smoothly in all the MCD wards. "No untoward incident reported till now. Voters are showing keen interest and polling so far has been hassle-free and pleasant," the SEC said, ANI reported. 
 

Union Minister Anurag Thakur appealed to the voters in Delhi to vote for the MCD elections. "All respected voters of Delhi, Make sure to exercise your franchise in the municipal elections today. Your opinion is invaluable in the development of Delhi. Don't forget…voting first, then other things," Anurag Thakur tweeted.

Amid the polling for the MCD elections, AAP leader Atishi has attacked the BJP saying, "They have a government for the 15 years in the MCD. If they had done work, they would have asked for votes on it. When Arvind Kejriwal went asking for votes in 2020, he told people to give him votes if he had worked for 5 years. Does the  BJP has the same courage and say ‘if we have cleaned Delhi for 15 years, then vote for us otherwise don’t?" 

Atishi also refuted Manoj Tiwari's allegation that 500 names have been deleted from Subhash Mohalla ward's voting list and said, "I request Manoj Tiwari that the Election Commission of India is one of the respected institutions of our country and it is not right to raise question on it during the elections."

According to the State Election Commission, 18% of voters turnout was recorded till 12 PM in the MCD elections.

Taking to his Twitter, Delhi L-G Vinai Saxena said, "I appeal to all the voters in Delhi to exercise their franchise today and fulfil their responsibility of shaping the city."

The BJP has written a complaint letter to the Delhi State Election Commission against AAP leaders Durgesh Pathak & Vijendra Garg who were allegedly caught campaigning for the MCC elections during the silence period violating the election rules and the MCC guidelines. 

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari slammed the AAP party over a discrepancy in the voter list alleging that 500 names have been deleted. Speaking to reporters in the Subhash Mohalla ward, Tiwari said, "We will take this matter to Election Commission. We will ask for re-election and punishment against those responsible." He claimed that about 500 names have been deleted from the voter list in the Subhash Mohalla. The BJP leader accused AAP of this discrepancy in the voter list and said the names of the voters were deleted because they support the BJP. "If he (Arvind Kejriwal) is confident, then why is he cancelling the votes?” Manoj Tiwari questioned. 

Speaking to Republic, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "People will vote for the BJP because there is a reason. People are saying how PM Modi is changing the entire nation. But due to one person  Arvind Kejriwal, things are getting worst in Delhi. We got the worst air in Delhi, we got the worst water in Delhi, we got the worst roads in Delhi. Things  are getting worst day by day."

He said the central issue in Delhi is air pollution and that the AAP govt is failing on it every time. "The most important issue is pollution in the air. Nobody can breathe. Young children and elderly people’s lungs are getting infected (by it)," Sirsa told Republic.

1984 Sikh riots accused Jagdish Tytler darted questions when Republic confronted him with controversy regarding his campaigning for Congress for the MCD election. While he said that the results after the elections will be good for Congress, he did not answer questions over the controversy that erupted after he was made star campaigner for Congress in the MCD election and said. “This you ask me sometime later”.

According to State Election Commission, around 9% of voters turnout was recorded till 10:30 AM in Delhi civic polls.

Union Minister and BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi cast her vote for the MCD elections. Speaking to Republic, Lekhi said, "I want to appeal to people to vote. It is our duty to think about our city and our colony. People should oust those who are doing politics of deceit. Delhi will reply to AAP’S politics of deceit. I am from Delhi, and I have seen several governments including this one. Keeping politics aside, we internally favour those who work for Dehli. But how he (Arvind Kejriwal) used Delhi’s resources to shine his face because he want to announce himself as a national leader and a PM candidate. The people of Delhi are frustrated because he has done no work in Delhi."

When asked about Kejriwal's appeal to people for 'Kattar Imaandaar' people, Lekhi told the reporters, “I also support Arvind Kejriwal’s statement. People should support Kattar Imaandaar. Everyone knows what is happening in jail… when you made Modi government in the Centre, you saw work being done. This is a municipal school where I cast my vote, here we have a computer lab, and robotics but we created no noise about it."

After casting his vote, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal interacted with media personnel and said, “I want to appeal to the people of Delhi to come out and use their vote. Everywhere we see garbage and filth. This is an opportunity to clean Delhi. Vote for a party that works. Do not vote for those who stop the work. Give vote for ‘Kattar Imaandaar' party. Don’t vote for the corrupt and those who abuse. In the next 5 years, we have to clean Delhi and make it shine."

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, "What I can say about the AAP. Whatever claims they had to make, they did. Now the people of Delhi will decide. After all, in present political discourse, people make all kinds of claims… they take credit for the work done by other people. My only desire and hope are that people come out in large numbers and vote."

"What we have done and said, is in the public domain. PM Modi recently handed over houses to economically weaker sections of people in Kalkaji. In our manifesto, we have given precise numbers... Seeing the enthusiasm, I feel the results will be good," Puri said.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal has left his official residence to cast vote for the MCD elections. 

AAP leader Durgesh Pathak, among the youngest candidates in the MCD elections, said that the BJP did nothing in their 15 years of rule in the MCD. Speaking to Republic, the AAP candidate from Karawal Nagar said, "They ruled for 15 years. They did not take any press conferences about their work in the MCD. They only abused Arvind Kejriwal. I want to tell the people of Delhi not to vote for those who abuse. Vote for those who have planned a better future for you. Only AAP has a vision"

As polling for MCD elections is underway in Delhi, the AQI of the national capital reaches around 400. IMD scientist in Air Quality Division, Vijay Soni said, "Due to low wind speed & decrease in mixing layer height, the air quality is deteriorating in Delhi. Today the air quality has come to the severe category with AQI around 400. We will see an improvement in AQI from evening onwards."

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal cast his vote for the MCD elections and urged voters to exercise their franchise. Speaking to the media, Gopal Rai said, "The only issue is that MCD should clean Delhi. I appeal to the people of Delhi to vote to clean Delhi, to form a corruption-free government in MCD, and to vote for people who work."

AAP leader and MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the people of Delhi will vote for honest politicians. "This is thing is clear that this time people will vote for good and honest people. There are cases registered on several BJP candidates... People will vote for those who work and make Delhi shine," Bharadwaj told reporters.

Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan cast his vote in Krishna Nagar. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Voters are smart. I have full faith that the Delhi voters will come out in large numbers, especially youths and women. Delhiites will vote for the party that follows its national duty and social duty. Under the leadership of PM Modi, BJP is working for national integration and national security and taking the country to new heights, I hope people vote accordingly. Delhi has seen the work of the BJP in the last 15 years."

Congress leader Alka Lamba cast her vote for Delhi MCD elections at a polling booth in Raghubir Nagar. "I appeal to people to come out of their homes and vote. People should vote for change," Lamba said.

After casting his vote for the MCD elections, BJP MP from Delhi Parvesh Verma said, "I request to all Delhi voters especially those who did not vote the last time, to come out of their house. First cast the vote. I appeal to Delhiites to choose a good government."

On AAP's claim of winning the MCD elections, he said, "It is their old habit of showing false surveys and misleading people. AAP was claiming to form govt in Goa, Uttarakhand & UP but people know they have a habit of lying. When Delhi people asked for oxygen, we never saw Kejriwal and his MLAs there. Only MCD and BJP workers were standing with people. We're getting around 210 seats out of 250 in the MCD polls."

Speaking to Republic, BJP leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal said, "BJP is forming government in the corporation. As per the early, we can say that the BJP is forming a government with a 2/3rd majority.” Attacking the AAP, the BJP leader said, "AAP did corruption in Delhi. They did a liquor scam. The whole country saw Satyendar Jain getting a massage in jail. This vote is an attack on the AAP's scams and corruption."

Speaking to Republic after his casting vote for MCD elections, BJP leader Kapil Mishra appealed to people to vote for those who can take Delhi ahead. When asked on what issues he had cast his vote on, he said, "How Delhi should be, how the national capital should be. I believe the whole of Delhi is voting on these issues… People are voting for Delhi keeping in mind what kind of people should be elected. Your day-to-day issues are related to these polls, please come out and exercise your franchise."

"I appeal to voters to come out of their houses and cast their vote. And vote for those who can take Delhi and the country ahead," the BJP leader said.

Speaking to reporters, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, "1.5 crore people are going to vote in Municipal Corporation polls. I appeal to people to keep in my mind that MCD's job is to clean the garbage, lanes, roads etc. I appeal to 1.5 crore voters to vote as much as possible. I appeal to voters to vote for development. It's a privilege to cast one's vote." He also lashed out at the BJP and said, "BJP has not done anything for Delhi for 15 years, it has failed miserably to work for the people."

After casting his vote at a polling booth in Rajouri Garden, Congress leader Ajay Maken said, "I appeal to all the voters to look at the candidates and vote for the candidates who can work for them. I believe the Congress candidates are good and people should vote for the candidate which will be available for them after polls." Denying that the MCD election is a two-way contest between the BJP and AAP, he said, "Last time, we had 24% votes and won 31 seats. In parliament elections, AAP came third."

Visuals from Matiala village, where people are seen queueing up to cast their votes at a polling booth.

Voting for the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi begins.

Ahead of the polling for the MCD elections, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "Today there is voting to make Delhi clean and beautiful, there is voting to make a corruption-free government in the Municipal Corporation. My appeal to all the Delhiites - do go to cast your vote today to form an honest and working government in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi."

Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta said, "First, I will go to a temple and then I will cast my vote. At around 08:30 AM, I will cast my vote in Patel Nagar. I urge the Delhi voters to choose the BJP for the country's interest and development of Delhi. I urge people to give answers to those who have done corruption in Delhi and have not done any development work. That’s why I request people to vote in large numbers in BJP's favour."

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that AAP leaders Durgesh Pathak & Vijendra Garg violated MCC guidelines. "In violation of every election rule & MCC guideline, Durgesh Pathak & Vijendra Garg of AAP caught red-handed doing an illegal campaign & perhaps distributing illegal material fearing election loss - EC must act- it is obvious AAP is losing MCD," the BJP leader tweeted.

Republic TV reports LIVE from the ground as Delhi gears up for MCD polls. Watch the biggest coverage here.

A senior police official said that for the MCD polls, "Nearly 40,000 Delhi Police personnel, about 20,000 home guards and 108 companies of CAPF and SAP are to be deployed." Sixty-eight model polling stations and as many pink polling stations covering all eleven assembly segments have been established for the quality experience of voters, poll officials said. 

Ahead of the voting, mock polling is underway at a polling booth in Matiala village, Delhi.

As the polling preparations are underway, here are the visuals from MC primary school in Delhi's Laxmi Nagar.

The Delhi MCD election is largely seen as a three-way contest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. Both the AAP and the BJP have exuded confidence that they will emerge victorious in the polls while the Congress is seeking to regain lost turf.

With the polls to begin at 8 AM today, Arvind Kejriwal's party is looking to wrest power from the BJP, while the saffron party is eying its fourth consecutive time at the civic body.

For those unversed, the MCD was earlier replaced by three bodies, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) in 2012, however, it was reunified once again on May 22, 2022. Home Minister had introduced the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha and slammed the Delhi Government for giving a step-motherly treatment to the three MCDs.

The Central government unified the three municipal corporations earlier this year into the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the number of seats was reduced from 272 to 250.

In the civic election in 2017, the BJP had won 181 of the 270 wards. No polling could be held on two seats due to death of candidates. The AAP had won 48 wards and the Congress 27.  In 2017 civic polls, the voting percentage was about 53%. 

The polling will being at 8 AM today and will conclude at 5:30 PM. The votes will be counted on December 7. More than 1.45 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls to the 250 wards of the civic body, in which 1,349 candidates are in the fray. 
 

What the 1.45 cr electors should know about?

• Polling date: December 4
• Total wards: 250
• Candidates in the fray: 1,349
• Eligible electors: 1,45,05,358 
• Polling stations: 13,638 polling stations
• Pink and model polling booths: 136
• Time of polling: 8 am to 5:30 pm 
• Counting of votes: December 7
• Completion of the electoral process: December 15