PremiumAll the wholesale and retail markets in the national capital will remain closed and the sale of liquor has also been banned temporarily in the national capital today in view of the MCD elections.
Delhi is witnessing the crucial MCD elections today, Sunday, December 4, a three-way race between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Congress. Around 1.4 crore eligible voters from 250 wards will get a chance to cast their votes in the crucial civil polls here. The voting for the polls has begun at 8am today and will end at 5:30 pm. The counting of the votes will be done 7 December.
All the poll officials and security forces are prepared for the elections in the national capital today. Delhi State Election Commission has set up 13,638 polling stations for the civic body polls. Around 40,000 police personnel, 20,000 home guards as well as 108 companies of paramilitary and state armed police forces has been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the MCD election.
The elections are seeing high-pitched contests between the BJP, which currently holds the reins of the civic bodies in the national capital, and the AAP, besides the Congress. The BJP has ruled the MCD for 15 years and is now seeking a fourth term.
This will be the first municipal election in the national capital after the delimitation of wards. The Union Home Ministry had sent the final delimitation order in October this year. Earlier, there were a total of 272 wards comprising the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation.
LiveMint is keeping the track of every update on MCD elections. Stay tuned for latest information.
The polling percentage in Delhi MCD elections, for all 250 wards, stands at approx 50% till 5.30 pm.
The residents of Delhi's northeast exercised their franchise in a civic poll for the first time since the infamous 2020 riots, hoping for a safer future. However, safety, security, sanitation remain major issues for northeast Delhi residents.
The BJP and AAP accused each other of violating model code of conduct during voting in municipal polls in the national capital today.
Grappling with issues such as waterlogging, poor roads and lack of education facilities, people in the rural areas of Delhi's Rohini and Badli turned up in large numbers today to vote in the Delhi municipal elections. (PTI)
The polling percentage in Delhi MCD elections, for all 250 wards, stands at approximately 45% till 4 pm, the State Election Commission said.
About 30% voter turnout has been recorded till 2.30 pm in the high stakes election to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. While the turnout at 12.30 pm was 18 per cent, the polling picked pace as the day progressed and will continue till 5.30 pm.
While the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party is looking to wrest power from the BJP, the saffron party is eying its fourth consecutive term at the civic body.
Praveen (56), whose family brought him to the booth on a wheelchair, said, "Every vote matters".
"Everyone should come out and exercise their right. Cleanliness was the main issue on my mind when I cast my vote," he said.
Hari Om (70) arrived at the polling booth holding crutches.
"There are many issues in our area and I don't know whether they will be addressed. But I knew I had to ensure that my vote counts," he said. (PTI)
Being wheelchair bound or walking with crutches was not a deterrent for differently-abled Delhi residents who enthusiastically arrived at the polling booths on Sunday to make their vote count for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) election. (PTI)
According to the State Election Commission (SEC), brisk polling is going on smoothly in all wards.
"No untoward incident reported till now. Voters are showing keen interest and polling so far has been hassle-free and pleasant," said SEC. (ANI)
Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi on Sunday said that the people will give a "befitting" reply to the ones who call themselves honest.
Speaking after casting her vote in the MCD elections 2022 at a polling booth in South Extension Part 2, Meenakashi Lekhi said, "People who call themselves honest will get a befitting reply from Delhi's voters."
A Lajpat Nagar resident 48-year-old Raminder Singh said that this time he ensured that the neighbours too come out to vote.
"The roads are in a pathetic condition and when it comes to cleanliness no work has been done in the past few years. They (political parties) take people for granted. They come to us asking for votes but after being elected all we get is pathetic roads and unclean areas," he told PTI.
Prithviraj (79), who claims to have never missed voting in an election be it MCD, Lok Sabha or Assembly elections, said that health and enhancement of school infrastructure are of prime importance for him while voting.
"Ultimately the children are our future leaders who need to be aware of what is going on in the country," he said while casting his vote at the polling booth in Krishna Nagar. (PTI)
Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to people to cast votes in the MCD polls.
"I appeal to all voters in Delhi to exercise their franchise today and fulfil their responsibility of shaping the city," the LG tweeted.
Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi cast her vote for Delhi MCD Election2022 at a polling booth in South Extension Part 2.
Kamal Kishore, a 45-year-old resident of Mata Sundari Road, claimed the MCD schools and hospitals are in a bad state. "School children should get better facilities. Their economic status should not be a bar. That is the issue I have voted for." (PTI)
Manoj Gupta, resident of Lajpat Nagar said, "when I came to cast my vote, I came with a clear mind and that was to vote for development of our area and enhance the education system here.
“MCD elections are important because it is fought based on local issues and for me cleanliness is the most important factor. If our areas are not clean, it could lead to diseases like Malaria and dengue and also leads to other issues," 47-year-old Aarti Kohli told PTI.
Kanhaiya Lal, who had come to vote at the DDU Marg Pink Booth, said, "we want development vis a vis schools, hospitals and other MCD related facilities. The party that can give us these things deserves to come to power." (PTI)
Development of education and health infrastructure, cleanliness and better civic amenities----are among the issues that voters in the national capital voted for on Sunday during the high-stake Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections. (PTI)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his family cast their votes at a polling booth in Civil Lines.
“I appeal to people to vote in large numbers. We can see there is garbage everywhere. It's an opportunity to clean Delhi. Vote for the party which does development work and is honest. Don't vote for those who are corrupt. We've to clean Delhi in the next 5 years," Kejriwal told media persons.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday cast his vote in Delhi MCD elections today. He said that MCD polls are a ‘wake up’ call for the national capital.
Congress leader Ajay Maken on Sunday cast his vote at a polling booth in Rajouri Garden for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections and urged people to see the candidates and vote accordingly
There is a three-cornered contest between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Congress in Delhi civic polls. Both the AAP and the BJP have exuded confidence that they will emerge victorious in the polls while the Congress is trying to regain lost turf.
The voting has begun at 8 am today and will continue till 5.30 pm. The counting of votes will take place on December 7.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia accused BJP of not doing anything for Delhi for the last 15 years and said that it has failed miserably to work for the people of the city.
Sisodia appealed to the people of the national capital to vote in record numbers and to make the city clean.
"1.5 crore people are going to vote in Municipal Corporation polls today. I appeal to people to keep in my mind that MCD's priority is to keep Delhi clean, sanitation issues, landfill, corruption, parking mess, stray animals and to build schools and hospitals among others. everyone to think before voting and vote for keeping Delhi clean. Vote for a garbage-free Delhi," he said.
Delhi State Election Commission said it has made elaborate arrangements for "safe, secure and pleasant" voting experience. These measures are required to keep the electoral field free and to ensure that a level playing field is afforded to all political parties and candidates.
“AAP was claiming to form government in Goa, Uttarakhand and UP but people know they have a habit of lying. During COVID, no one from AAP was seen working for the people. Only MCD workers were standing with people. We're getting around 210 seats out of 250 in the MCD polls," Parvesh Verma told ANI.
All wholesale and retail markets in the national capital will remain closed today, Sunday, in view of the civic body polls here.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said popular markets, including Lajpat Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Karol Bagh, Laxmi Nagar among others will remain closed.
Voting is underway for the high-stakes civic polls in Delhi on Sunday, which is largely being seen as a three-way contest among the AAP, the BJP and the Congress.
In Matiala village, a first time voter said that roads, women safety, and water are the issues considered for voting.
Eligible voters are standing in a long queue to cast their votes at Chand Bagh area in East Delhi today. Over 1.46 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the civic polls today.
Earlier, there were 272 wards in Delhi and three corporations- NDMC, SDMC, and EDMC in Delhi from 2012-2022 that later reunified into an MCD that had formally come into existence on May 22.
All political parties campaigned hard for the elections with the issue of cleanliness in the city figuring prominently in the political discourse.
BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, Meenakshi Lekhi, Piyush Goyal and Hardeep Singh Puri campaigned for the party.
Congress leader Ajay Maken has his vote vote at a polling booth in Rajouri Garden for the MCD elections today.
Around 1.46 crore eligible electors will cast their votes till 5.30 pm today.
Taking to Twitter, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta wrote, “Humble appeal to the people of Delhi! Today there is Municipal Corporation election in Delhi, it will determine the progress of the area and the upliftment of the residents for the coming 5 years. Do vote to form a developing government and be a witness to the great festival of democracy. Remember voting first then refreshments!"
In a tweet post, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said, “Today there is voting to make Delhi clean and beautiful, there is voting to make a corruption free government in the Municipal Corporation."
“My appeal to all the Delhiites - do go to cast your vote today to form an honest and working government in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi."
In its manifesto, the BJP has said that 17,000 flats are ready for allotment to the slum dwellers in the national capital if the saffron party is voted to power in the MCD elections 2022.
The BJP has also promised to bring all MCD services online within 100 days and 100 per cent garbage processing. Free cycles to meritorious girls.
According to a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a few days ahead of the polls, the BJP has the highest number of millionaire candidates in the fray, followed by the AAP and the Congress.
Of the top three richest candidates, two from the BJP and one from the AAP.
Delhi State Election Commission has set up 13,638 polling stations for the civic body polls. Around 40,000 police personnel, 20,000 home guards as well as 108 companies of paramilitary and state armed police forces has been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the MCD election.
A total of 68 Model Polling Stations have been set up with facilities including a waiting area/lounge, distribution of candies/toffees to voters, a selfie booth and Civil Defence Volunteers to help PwD/senior citizens.
Apart from this, 68 Pink booths have been set up with facilities including all-female staff at the polling station, a feeding room for lactating mothers, a creche facility for small kids accompanying voters, swings for kids, selfie booth.
Both the BJP and the AAP have fielded 250 candidates, while the Congress has contested only 247 seats.
Among the other parties, the Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded 132 candidates while the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen headed by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi is contesting in 15 wards.
The Nationalist Congress Party has fielded candidates in 26 wards and Janata Dal (United) has 22 candidates in fray.
The polling will begin at 8 am today and the counting of votes will be done on December 7.
BJP leaders Sambit Patra and Union minister Anurag Thakur through back-to-back to press conferences, slammed the AAP and Kejriwal over corruption issues.
AAP leader and Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia accused the BJP of turning the national capital into a "mound of garbage".
"The BJP was in power in MCD for 15 years and it turned Delhi into a capital of garbage mounds and stray animals. This time, people will choose Arvind Kejriwal to make Delhi clean and beautiful," he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has promised to flatten Delhi's landfills and remove the garbage mess in its manifesto.
"We want to beautify Delhi, and make it clean," the Chief Minister said.
“We guarantee that we will make the MCD corruption-free by introducing a simple online process building map approval," he added.
In the 2017 MCD elections, out of the 270 wards BJP had won in 181 wards, Congress in 27 and AAP in 48 wards.
The incumbent BJP has released a 10-point manifesto for the Delhi civic polls. The party has promised to get Delhiites rid of maladministration, corruption, garbage mountains and mismanagement.
"Arvind Kejriwal will launch AAP's highly successful 'Kejriwal Ki 10 Guarantee' campaign for MCD elections tomorrow. The people of Delhi are actively seeking such a government in MCD that can rid them of BJP's maladministration, corruption, garbage mountains and mismanagement. BJP has completely wrecked the MCD from inside, they’ve ruined Delhi, spread garbage all over, every gully-mohalla and park is full of garbage. Traders are being harassed and exploited by the BJP. The common man can't even build his home unless he pays up to BJP’s mafias," Delhi deputy chief minister and close Kejriwal aide Manish Sisodia said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has taken a dig at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after the second video of his party leader, “relaxing" in Tihar jail, got leaked on Saturday.
Kejriwal in a press statement said BJP is purposely releasing the videos because the saffron party is afraid they will lose in the upcoming Delhi MCD elections.
“MCD elections are becoming quite clear, it's BJP's 10 videos versus Kejriwal's 10 guarantees. Let's wait till December 4, people of Delhi will give a reply to all those videos," he said.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar attacked his Delhi counterpart, saying that Arvind Kejriwal considers himself the owner of Delhi.
"The Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal considers himself as the owner of Delhi, unlike our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who thinks of himself as a servant of this Nation," Haryana CM said.
He was addressing a public rally in the national capital to support Bharatiya Janata Party nominees for the upcoming Delhi MCD election.
The voting will begin at 8 am today, and will end at 5.30 pm for the MCD elections in the national capital.
The BJP on Friday announced its "commitment" to regularise weekly markets of street vendors and hawkers, hours before the culmination of campaigning for civic polls.
“We want to make it clear that we stand with them. It has been their demand to be regularised. Taking cognizance of their demands, we are saying it today with full responsibility that it is their right to be regularised," said National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia.
Leaders of political parties made last ditch effort as campaigning for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections ended on Friday, December 2.
Ahead of the MCD elections, the alcohol sale in the national capital has been restricted for three days, marked 'dry days' from Friday, December 2.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday informed that the rail services on all the Lines would start from 4 am at terminal stations, in the wake of the December 4 elections of the Municipal Corporation in the national capital.
Ahead of the civic polls in Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday slammed the BJP for turning the national capital into a ''mound of garbage'' and stressed that people will choose AAP in MCD too.
"The BJP was in power in MCD for 15 years and it turned Delhi into a capital of garbage mounds and stray animals. This time, people will choose Arvind Kejriwal for MCD to make Delhi clean and beautiful," he claimed.
Delhi Police on Saturday, conducted patrolling in the areas of Daryaganj and Jama Masjid ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Central Delhi, Shweta Chauhan told ANI that out of the 200 polling premises and 700 polling booths, 54 are critically sensitive.
Around 40,000 police personnel, 20,000 home guards as well as 108 companies of paramilitary and state armed police forces have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the MCD election, officials said.
Sixty drones will also be used to ensure law and order in sensitive areas, they said.
All wholesale and retail markets in the national capital will remain closed today in view of the civic body polls here, a traders' body said on Saturday. These markets include Lajpat Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Kamala Nagar, Karol Bagh, Laxmi Nagar among others.
Over 1.45 crore eligible voters will cast their votes in civic polls today in which 1,349 candidates are in the fray.
According to data shared by the State Election Commission officials, the total number of voters in Delhi is 1,45,05,358 -- 78,93,418 males, 66,10,879 females and 1,061 transgender persons. There are 250 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Delhi State Election Commission has set up 13,638 polling stations for the civic body polls. Around 40,000 police personnel, 20,000 home guards as well as 108 companies of paramilitary and state armed police forces has been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the MCD election.
The commission has also set up 68 Model Polling Stations with facilities including a waiting area/lounge, distribution of candies/toffees to voters, a selfie booth and Civil Defence Volunteers to help PwD/senior citizens.
Apart from this, 68 Pink booths have been set up with facilities including all-female staff at the polling station, a feeding room for lactating mothers, a creche facility for small kids accompanying voters, swings for kids, selfie booth.
The voting for the polls is scheduled to be held from 8 am to 5:30 pm. The counting of the votes will be done 7 December.
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