Voting begins for high-stakes Delhi polls; AAP seeks hat-trick, BJP, Congress aim for revival
New Delhi (PTI): Voting began for the high-octane Delhi Assembly elections, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) eyeing a third straight term, banking on its governance record and welfare schemes, while the BJP and Congress look for a resurgence.
Around 1.56 crore eligible voters started casting their ballots at 7 am on Wednesday.
Polling is underway at 13,766 stations across all 70 Assembly constituencies to decide the fate of 699 candidates in a contest that could reshape the political landscape of the capital.
With voter turnout expected to play a decisive role, all eyes are on Delhi's electorate as they head to the polling booths.
In the 2020 assembly polls, Delhi had recorded a voter turnout of 62.59 per cent while only 56 per cent of voters participated in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Polling is scheduled to continue until 6 pm.
The Election Commission has deployed 220 companies of paramilitary forces, 35,626 Delhi Police personnel, and 19,000 home guards to ensure smooth voting.
Nearly 3,000 polling booths have been identified as sensitive, with special security arrangements, including drone surveillance, at some locations.
Delhi Police has stationed additional forces at sensitive booths, with Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) deployed to maintain law and order.
Special provisions have been made for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, with 733 polling stations designated for accessibility.
To streamline the process, the Election Commission has introduced a Queue Management System (QMS) app, allowing voters to check crowd levels in real time.
Additionally, 6,980 out of 7,553 eligible voters under the home voting facility have already cast their ballots.
The Delhi Assembly election is seen as a referendum on AAP's governance model and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal.
AAP is seeking a third consecutive term, relying on its governance record and welfare schemes.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a determined push to reclaim the capital after more than 25 years.
The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years until 2013, is striving to stage a comeback after failing to win a single seat in the last two elections.
The campaigning, which officially ended at 6 pm on Monday, saw a high-voltage battle between the three main contenders.
The discourse was marked by aggressive name-calling, AI-generated spoofs, and debates over issues such as the "Sheesh Mahal" controversy, Yamuna's water quality, and allegations of voter list tampering.
While governance, law and order, and women's welfare were key themes, promises of freebies dominated the pre-poll narrative.
The election results on February 8 will determine whether AAP retains its stronghold, BJP breaks its losing streak, or Congress stages an unexpected comeback.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
