Polling underway in Delhi amid BJP-AAP charges

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 electorate of over 1.33 crore are eligible to exercise their franchise as voting has begun from 8 am in the national capital.

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 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,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 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."

AAP chief ministerial candidate Arvind Kejriwal has 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.

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.

The counting of votes to the 70-member Assembly will be held on Feb  10.

BJP chief ministerial candidate Kiran 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.

She said the videos are available but no one is showing them.

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.

AAP alleged of liquor distribution by the rival BJP too.

Kejriwal 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.