The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), today, winning the elections in all three municipalities.
The votes for the elections are being counted at 35 centres across the city. Of these, 16 are in north Delhi, 13 in the South and six in East Delhi.
Poll Highlights:
- All trends are in. BJP has marched to power in MCD with 64 seats in North, 68 in South and 47 in East. AAP is second in MCD North with 21 seats, MCD South with 17 seats and MCD East with 9 seats.
- Union Minster, Jitendra Singh, thanking the people of Delhi, said that BJP is the only viable option for the voters today, and that is why people have selected the party.
- Meanwhile Delhi Minister Gopal Rai blamed “tampered” Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the BJP’s big win.
- First results are in: BJP wins from Janakpuri West and Janakpuri East.
- BJP looks set to finish with a 2/3rd majority in all 3 constituencies, as almost all trends are in.
- BJP, with most of the trends in, is far ahead of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress.
- BJP has now established a clear lead in all three areas - with around half the trends in. AAP has been relegated to third position in MCD East and South, and is neck-and-neck with Congress in MCD North.
- Early trends show BJP leading in all three areas - MCD East, MCD North and MCD South. Congress is doing better than exit poll predictions in all 3 areas. AAP is at No 2 in MCD North, and No 3 in MCD East and MCD South.
As many as 90,000 security personnel of Delhi Police, paramilitary forces and Home Guards were deployed at counting centres. Two exit polls had predicted BJP finishing way ahead of the AAP and the Congress with over 200 of the 270 wards where polling was held. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on polling day, attacked the EVM’s claiming that reports of “faulty” EVMs were pouring in from across the national capital. The AAP also alleged that many voters with valid voter slips were “not allowed” to exercise their franchise in the municipal polls. Earlier, Kejriwal had demanded that the election be postponed till arrangements for Voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT)-equipped EVM were made. However, the State Election Commission denied the allegations made by AAP.
State Election commissioner S K Shrivastava said, “The EVM has proved that its unhackable. It is a robust machine. Don't think there should be any question related to EVM.” The polling did not take place in two wards, Maujpur in east Delhi and Sarai Pipal Thala in north Delhi where a candidate each of the Samajwadi Party died. The BJP, AAP and the Congress are the three main competitors in the fray.
Kejriwal Ex-party colleague Yogendra Yadav, who now leads the Swaraj India, wrote an open letter to the chief minister and challenged him to win at least 50% seats in the civic polls or step down. Even as the Swaraj India and the Janata Dal (United) look to expand base beyond Bihar and Jharkhand, the BJP, AAP and the Congress have roped in top leaders and done whatever they could to woo the voters.
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