New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly began on Saturday that will decide the fate of 672 candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and Congress -- in a three-cornered contest.
There are over 1.47 crore eligible voters, including 2.08 lakh first-timers, who will exercise their franchise between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The results for the elections will be announced on February 11.
Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan, S. Jaishankar and various MPs, including controversial BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Verma, were among the early voters along with their families.
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 long 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 are vigilant amid tight security arrangements across the national capital with extra vigil in Shaheen Bagh -- the epicentre of anti-CAA protest -- and other sensitive polling areas.
The Election Commission has identified 516 locations and 3,704 polling booths as critical voting stations where paramilitary forces have been deployed. Activities at each polling stations are being monitored through webcasting.
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.
PM urges youth to vote
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people, especially the youth, to come out and vote in record numbers.
“Today is the polling day for the Delhi Legislative Assembly...Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers,” Modi tweeted.
Polling here began at 8 a.m. A total of 14.79 million registered voters will decide the luck of 672 candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and Congress. The results for the elections will be announced on February 11.
Kejriwal appeals women
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged women to vote in the Delhi Assembly polls on Saturday, saying like their home, the nation is also their responsibility.
In a tweet in Hindi, he said they should also take along the men in their houses for voting.
“You must go to vote. Special appeal to all women - Just like you bear the responsibility of home, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is also on you. All of you ladies must go to vote and also take the men of your house. Make sure to discuss with men about who are the right ones to vote for,” Kejriwal said.
