MCD polls: Voters queued up outside the polling stations on Sunday since early morning to exercise their franchise in the elections to the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. In the high-stakes civic polls, it’s largely a three-way contest between the BJP, the AAP and the Congress. With over 1.45 crore people eligible to vote, there are 1,349 candidates in the fray.
Corruption charges against several of AAP ministers, including deputy CM Manish Sisodia, has come to hound the party. CCTV videos of arrested minister Satyendar Jain getting “special treatment” in Tihar Jail has given enough fodder to the opposition to attack the party.
Three-cornered contest
As garbage is the central issue in Delhi, AAP is wielding its broom to acquire greater control in the national capital while BJP is confident this time it will manage to strengthen its grip. On the other side, Congress is hoping to gain some ground.
As voting began at 8 am, people started arriving at the polling booth braving the chilly morning and was expected to pick up by late morning. Gates at the polling booths will close at 5.30 pm, after which only those already inside can vote.
While AAP and BJP both are fighting on all 250 seats, Congress is contesting on 247 seats as nominations of three of its candidates were rejected over technicalities.
BJP’s control over MCD has been strong even though it has not formed the Delhi state government in the past 24 years. In 2017 elections, it retained the civic body by winning 181 of its 272 seats. AAP was second with 48 and Congress third with 30.
Housing a major issue
BJP this time has made housing a major issue with Prime Minister handing over keys of some slum rehab flats. AAP is focusing on the garbage issue.
The Congress is hoping to gain some ground that it lost after the death of Sheila Dikshit in 2019.
Since stakes are high, so is security. Around 40,000 state police, 20,000 Home Guards, and 8,000-odd personnel from paramilitary and state armed police, have been deployed. Total 60 drone-cameras are hovering over sensitive areas to keep an eye on lumpen elements.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
