December 13, 2024 10:42 (IST)
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Delhi polls: Over 60 pct Delhiites cast vote
New Delhi, Feb 7 (IBNS): Amid exchange of political barbs between the two main rivals-Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party, more than 60 percent of Delhiites exercised their franchise on Saturday to elect the new government in the national capital.
According to reports, more than 60 percent of 1.3 crore voters had been inked by 5.30 pm.
At total of 673 candidates are in the fray for the Delhi Assembly elections where polling is being held at 12,177 polling stations.
The polling on Saturday is majorly seen as a contest between AAP’s Arvind Kejirwal’s claims versus Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charismatic leadership following his landslide victory in the Lok Sabha polls last year.
The national capital is witnessing a battle between the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP with all the three parties exchanging barbs for the past few days.
As voting progressed in the day, BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi alleged that AAP has involved in money laundering and paid Rs. 300 to voters to gain voting in the party's favour.
She also said that AAP is also distributing liquor in Delhi.
Bedi alleged that she has video recording of AAP threatening voters, buying votes and also intimidating women.
"AAP is trying to buy votes for Rs 300. They are resorting to scuffles, women are also threatened. You can show this video. I am going to give this to the head office [BJP] for action," said Kiran Bedi speaking to NDTV.
However, AAP's CM candidate Arvind Kejriwal earlier in the day appealed that nobody should vote for the party who is distributing liquor and money.
"Please don't vote for the party who is distributing money and liquor to voters, " Kejriwal told media.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged young voters to vote in record numbers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "As Delhi votes today, urging voters to go out & vote in large numbers. I particularly call upon my young friends to vote in record numbers."
Kejriwal also tweeted that BJP workers have given up in many places, similar to how Congress workers gave up in last elections. "They are completely demoralized," he said.
AAP said there is a wave for their party.
BJP CM candidate Kiran Bedi on the other hand said AAP would lose.
"We are heading for a solid victory," Bedi claimed.
Ahead of the polling day, the AAP has claimed that it would record a thumping victory to get 51 seats and form a new government.
Meanwhile, some untoward incidents were reported by political leaders themselves.
Former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi, who recently joined the BJP, said AAP workers misbehaved with her at Karawal Nagar and abused her since they take Arvind Kejriwal as their god.
The AAP has rubbished the charges and their leaders said BJP should go to police and lodge complaints instead of making such wild allegations.
BJP's candidate from New Delhi constituency Nupur Sharma on Saturday alleged that an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker "pushed her around" when she tried to stop their illegal campaigning during polling.
Sharma, who contests the poll against AAP chief Arvind Kejriwa, said the incident took place at the Rao Tula Ram Marg centre in Sangli.
She alleged that AAP workers also pushed her sister.
"As a candidate, I will stop any illegal style of campaigning, which is against model code of conduct," Sharma told reporters.
She said the man who pushed her wearing a sweat shirt with Arvind Kejriwal's picture on it.
"When I demanded him to remove the sweat shirt, he was rude. So I decided to complain to the police. When the police got active, he took off his shirt and gave it to a woman to hide it. The man then pushed my sister. I don't know what kind of behaviour it is," Sharma said.
"This is no way to behave with a girl. How dare he touch women? The man said he can do whatever he wants. I have demanded an apology from anti-aurat party colleagues," she added.
Kejriwal also tweeted that voting is slow because only one person is allowed inside the polling booths as against three as per rules.
"Even lunch breaks being taken which is against rules. EC shud immediately intervene. As per rules, 3 voters r [are] allowed inside booth at a time. They r [are] allowing only 1 voter, which has slowed down voting," tweeted Kejriwal.
Limiting to not this, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday filed a complaint to the Election Commission against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi for violating the model code of conduct in Krishna Nagar constituency.
"Complaint has been filed with EC against Kiran Bedi ji for violation of MCC," the AAP tweeted.
The party has alleged that Bedi has conducted a 5 km 'Padyatra', bike rally and and met voters in the Krishna Nagar constituency on the same day of the election.
Later in the evening, Former RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya on Saturday complained to the Election Commission against the Bharatiya Janata Party for its full-page advertisements in e-papers of various national dailies, saying it was a violation of the electoral law.
In a representation to the poll panel, Govindacharya demanded action against the BJP act.
He alleged that through the e-paper ads the BJP is soliciting votes for Saturday's elections in Delhi which is prohibited under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
"It is clear that provisions of RP Act and other guidelines of model code of conduct are being blatantly violated by BJP and voters of Delhi are being influenced through such unlawful advertisements on various e-papers," he said.
The counting of votes to the 70-member Assembly will be held on Feb 10.
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