Delhi Assembly Election 2020 LIVE: Voting is still underway at some polling booths, says Delhi CEO

Till now voter turnout is 57.06%, it is tentative data as voting is still underway at some polling booths, says Ranbir Singh, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Delhi

The three minority-dominated seats of Mustafabad, Matia Mahal and Seelampur recorded the highest voter turnout in the Delhi Assembly elections 2020 on Saturday, polls officials said.

According to the data shared by the officials, Mustafabad in northeast Delhi recorded 66.29 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm.

Matia Mahal in old Delhi, the area that saw anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests, recorded a voter turnout of 65.62 per cent.

Seelampur, another minority seat in northeast Delhi, recorded 64.92 per cent voting. The seat had also seen anti-CAA protests in December.

Till 5 pm, the national capital recorded a voter turnout of 57.87 per cent.

Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah has called a meeting at 8:30 pm today at Pandit Pant Marg on Delhi Elections 2020.

Party leaders including Vijay Goel, Prakash Javadekar, Hardeep Singh and Nityanand Rai will be present.

Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 57.06 pc till 6 pm, even as polling at some booths was underway and the figure is likely to rise, Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said on Saturday.

Polling officially ends at 6 pm. But voters, who enter polling stations till 6 pm, are allowed to cast their vote.

Singh said there were long queues at many polling booths.

In today’s National Capital elections, all exit polls are showing a big win for AAP.

Delhi elections 2020: 54.65% voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 6 pm.

Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 54 per cent by 5 pm on Saturday, poll officials said.

There was a rise in the voting percentage after initial sluggishness, especially in morning hours.

"The polling percentage recorded till 5 pm is 54.14 per cent," a Delhi CEO official said.

Of the 11 districts, northeast Delhi recorded a turnout of 63.4 per cent, the highest, while New Delhi saw 44.29 per cent, the lowest.

Voting underway at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi and BJP's Brahm Singh Bidhuri.

Delhi elections 2020: 44.52% voter turnout in Delhi assembly polls till 5 pm.

Voter turnout in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's constituency in the national capital did not cross the half-way mark till 4 p.m. on Saturday.

"The voter turnout is low because people have used the election day holiday as an opportunity to go out of station and relax," a voter told IANS outside the polling station in New Delhi constituency.

The voter turnout in Kejriwal's constituency stood at 37. 45 per cent at 4 p.m. In 2015 Assembly elections, the total turnout in New Delhi constituency was 64.72 per cent.

Another resident of Lodhi estate area contended that there is a clear picture as to who is going to form the government and hence voter turnout would not impact the overall result.

Jawala Devi (90), who lives behind Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's residence in a make-shift structure, said that every citizen should exercise his/her franchise for the betterment of the country.

"I have been casting vote from the last 60 years. Everyone should vote," said Devi.

Kejriwal, who is seeking another term from the New Delhi constituency, cast his vote along with his father, mother, wife and son at a polling booth in Rajpura Transport Authority in Civil Lines area amid tight security.

The polling will end at 6 p.m. and the results will be announced on February 11.

In the elections, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making another attempt to return to power, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is determined to stage a comeback after 22 years. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years between 1998 and 2013, is expecting a resurgence in its vote share.

In the last elections in 2015, Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had registered a landslide victory by winning 67 of the 70 seats. The BJP had got three seats while the Congress drew a blank.

The AAP is contesting on all 70 seats this time, while the BJP has fielded its candidates from 67 seats and has left three seats for its allies -- two for Janata Dal (United) and one for Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

The Congress is contesting on 66 seats, leaving four seats to its ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

An estimated 42.70 per cent of the 1.47 crore eligible voters cast their votes in the first eight hours till 4 p.m. on Saturday in the election for the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel conducted flag marches in sensitive areas in northeast and east Delhi during polling on Saturday, officials said. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of the Delhi assembly elections, they said.

"The personnel, including senior officers, conducted flag marches in sensitive areas. They also conducted patrolling on motorcycles. PCR and quick response teams have also been deployed at sensitive areas" Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Alok Kumar said.

Flag marches were conducted in Brij Puri, Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri, Seemapuri, Khajuri Khass, Jaffrabad, Mustafabad, Krishna Nagar and Mayur Vihar in northeast Delhi, Shahdara and other east Delhi areas. PTI AMP BUN ANB

BJP MPs Meenakshi Lekhi and Varun Gandhi on Saturday exercised their franchise in central Delhi's Nirman Bhavan polling booth

Taking a swipe at those protesting against CAA-NRC, senior RSS functionary Ram Lal on Saturday said those shouting "kagaz nahin dikhayenge" would be defeated in the Delhi assembly election as he appealed to people to show documents while voting.

Talking to reporters after casting his vote at a polling booth in Nirman Bhawan, Lal asked voters to keep in mind who can make Delhi the best capital city in the world.

Hundreds of people, protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in many areas across the country, often raise the slogan of "kagaz nahi dikhayenge" (we will not show show documents.

"My message to the voters is 'aaj apna kagaz jaroor lekar jayen. Kagaz jaroor dikhayen' (Today, take your document along with you and show your document)," Lal said.

In Delhi, there will be a government which can coordinate with the Centre, Lal, who was in the BJP till last year, said.

"Today, mentality of not showing documents will be defeated and (those ready to) show documents will win," he said.

Senior BJP leader Shyam Jaju said that voters will teach a lesson to those who allegedly funded the anti-CAA protest in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh and those who supported it.

"Aam Aadmi Party's Amanatullah Khan funded Shaheen Bagh and Delhi's Deputy CM supported it...They have done nothing to lift the blockade (at Shaheen Bagh)," Jaju told reporters.

Responding to AAP supremo and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegation that no one in the BJP was worthy of becoming the CM, Jaju said, "We have no dearth of chief ministerial candidates. We will declare our CM face at the right time." AAP candidate from Chandni Chowk Prahalad Sahni said that vote is being cast on the development plank, asserting that the Shaheen Bagh issue has no impact in the Delhi assembly elections.

Counting of votes will take place on February 11.

West Delhi MP and senior BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said that he is confident that after a long gap, the Bharatiya Janata Party will be victorious in Delhi this time.

Dilbar Singh Chauhan, who lives in Maulana Azad Medical College Campus, said that nationalism is a commitment, which is in his blood.

"But, vote should be cast on the issue of development. Today, the voter doesn't get swayed by the Hindu-Muslim politics. I know what is good for my family, kids... if we don't vote for development now, our kids will suffer in the future," Chauhan said.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra and their son Raihan Rajiv Vadra who is a first-time voter, cast their vote at booth no.114 & 116 in Lodhi Estate

Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and his wife Neelu Chandra cast their vote at polling booth number 99 in New Moti Bagh.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani cast their vote at a polling booth on Aurangzeb lane

Residents of south west Delhi were in for a surprise on Saturday with three model booths offering red carpet welcome to voters as polling started for the Assembly elections.

Congress candidate from Delhi's Gandhinagar Assembly seat, Arvinder Singh Lovely voted in the East Azad Nagar polling booth on Saturday.

Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi has cast her vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. She was accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who will cast her vote at booth no.114 & 116 at Lodhi Estate.

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Singh cast their vote at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at polling booth number 81&82 at Aurangzeb Road to cast his vote in Delhi Elections 2020

110-yrs-old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi, casts her vote for Delhi Elections 2020, at SDMC Primary School, Chittaranjan Park in Greater Kailash assembly constituency

President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind cast their votes at Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya, President’s Estate

Voted along with my family, including my first-time voter son. Urge all young voters to come out to vote. Your participation strengthens democracy, says Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency, Manish Sisodia and his wife Seema Sisodia cast their vote at MCD school in Pandav Nagar.

Of the 1.47 crore voters who geared up to exercise their franchise on Saturday, some of the early birds were the who's who of the capital -- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav

Jaishankar cast his vote at the NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Crescent polling station.

"Casting vote is one of the prime duties of the citizens of the country. People should definitely come out and cast their vote in order to contribute in the building of the nation," he said outside the polling station.

BJP MP Parvesh Verma, who recently made headlines for being barred by the Election Commission for his unparliamentary comments against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, cast his vote at a Matiala polling station.

"Today Delhi will decide what kind of government they want -- a government who works for the development of the nation or a government slipping into a sink hole of corruption," Verma told the media.

Ram Madhav arrived at a polling station in Jhandewalan area, in Karol Bagh Assembly constituency.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan along with his mother came and cast his vote at Ratan Devi Public School in Krishna Nagar. "This time the Aam Aadmi Party will be defeated very badly. People have seen them clearly in their true colours -- working against the interest of the nation.

"BJP will win with flying colours. This election is clearly between right and wrong," Harshvardhan told media.

When asked how many seats the BJP expected to win, he said: "I am not an astrologer to predict that." He also said that the "AAP has no issue to talk about, that's why they are saying that the BJP has no CM face."

More than one crore people of Delhi will choose 70 lawmakers.

Voting underway in Delhi, visuals from a polling booth in MCD primary school in Shakarpur. A bridegroom also cast his vote with his family

I appeal to all, specially to the women, to cast their votes today. I am hopeful that people of Delhi will vote on the basis of the work done. I am hopeful that Aam Aadmi Party will come back to power for the third time, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his family casts his vote at a polling booth in Civil Lines; BJP's Sunil Yadav & Congress's Romesh Sabharwal are contesting against him from New Delhi constituency.

Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Rajinder Nagar, Raghav Chadha casts his vote at a polling station in Rajinder Nagar; Congress's Rocky Tuseed and BJP's RP Singh are contesting from the assembly constituency here

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leaves for casting his vote.BJP's Sunil Yadav and Congress's Romesh Sabharwal are contesting against him from New Delhi constituency.

Congress candidate from the Chandni Chowk assembly constituency, Alka Lamba casts her vote at polling booth number 161 at Tagore Garden Extension; She is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP's Suman Gupta

Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari and senior RSS leader Ram Lal at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi assembly constituency. Delhi CM and sitting MLA from the constituency, Arvind Kejriwal is contesting. BJP's Sunil Yadav and Congress's Romesh Sabharwal fielded against the CM

Voting has not yet begun at C10 block booth in Yamuna Vihar due to a technical issue in the EVM. Election Commission's technical team at the spot.

Lt Governor Anil Baijal and his wife Mala Baijal cast their vote at a polling station at Greater Kailash; AAP's sitting MLA and candidate Saurabh Bhardwaj is contesting against BJP's Shikha Rai and Congress's Sukhbir Pawar from here

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi was attacked in Model Town Assembly seat before the voting began on Saturday morning in 70 assembly seats in Delhi. AAP leader Sanjay Singh has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the incident.

Sanjay Singh tweeted, "Model Town MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi has been attacked by BJP goons. Police is not taking any action. Election Commission should take cognizance of it and take action against the goons."

Police is investigating the case.

Justice R. Bhanumati arrives at NDMC School of Science & Humanities Education at Tuglak Cresent Road, to cast her vote in Delhi Elections 2020

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged women to vote in the Delhi Assembly polls on Saturday, saying like their home, the nation is also their responsibility.

BJP MP Parvesh Verma casts his vote in Matiala assembly constituency. Rajesh Gehlot from BJP and Congress' Sumesh Shokeen are up against AAP's Gulab Singh Yadav in Matiala.

A queue of voters at a polling booth in Shaheen Public School in Shaheen Bagh, Okhla. AAP's Amanatullah is the sitting MLA and 2020 candidate of the party, he is up against Congress's Parvez Hashmi and BJP's Brahm Singh Bidhuri.

The polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly got underway on Saturday morning, an election that saw the ruling AAP, opposition BJP and the Congress engaged in a bitterly fought high-octane campaign.

Over 1.47 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls that will decide the fate of 672 candidates.

The polling began at 8 am and will end at 6 pm, an official said.

Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj Assembly constituency at Mayur Vihar Phase II. He says, "Today, people of Delhi will vote for better education and future for their children"; The BJP has fielded Ravi Negi from the constituency.

Riding on tech-savvy elements like QR codes and mobile apps, poll authorities have geared up for the elections to the 70-member Delhi assembly on Saturday, making tight security arrangements across the national capital and keeping an extra vigil in Shaheen Bagh and other sensitive polling areas.

Over 1.47 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the electoral battle for Delhi, which is largely being seen as a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, a spirited Congress and the opposition BJP which has campaigned very aggressively ahead of the election.

In view of the ongoing anti-CAA protests in Shaheen Bagh, the Delhi CEO Office has put all five polling stations in the area under the "critical" category, and confidence-building measures are continuously being undertaken to reassure voters, officials said.

Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh reiterated that the area is under "tight vigil" and "there is no obstruction" in areas where poll activities will be conducted, so voters will face no problems.

He said 1,47,86,382 people are eligible to vote in the Delhi polls, and 2,32,815 are in the age group of 18-19.

Voters in various categories include males (81,05,236), females (66,80,277), service voters (11,608), third gender voters (869), and senior citizens (aged 80 and above) voters (2,04,830), officials said.

The bitterly fought high-octane campaign that lasted for over three weeks ended at 6 pm on Thursday, just 38 hours before the start of voting for the high-stakes Delhi assembly election.

There are 672 candidates in the fray for 70 assembly seats.

Tight security arrangements have been made across the national capital and police force and paramilitary personnel have been deployed.

Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) Praveer Ranjan, had earlier said 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed as part of the security measures.

This is nearly four times the number of CAPF personnel deployed during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he added.

There are 13,750 polling booths, besides one auxiliary booth, located at 2,689 locations across Delhi.

"As far as critical polling stations are concerned, there are 516 locations and 3,704 booths in that category," Singh said.

Besides police security, polling stations falling in the "critical category" get paramilitary cover. Activities will be monitored through webcasting, he said.

Police and election machinery are on "extra vigil" and assessing the situation all the time across the national capital, he added.

Security personnel kept guard at strong rooms storing EVMs. Election staff carried EVMs and other polling material to booths under tight supervision in all constituencies.

Shaheen Bagh falls in the Okhla assembly constituency. The area has become the epicentre of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the national capital and the agitation has been thrust by political parties into a poll issue.

Hundreds of people, including women and children, have been protesting since December 15 at Shaheen Bagh against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens.

Poll authorities had met protesters recently and encouraged them to vote on the polling day.

"The 2020 Delhi polls will be tech-driven with greater use of technology elements like mobile apps, QR codes, social media interface, seeking to enhance the experience of all categories of voters, before polling or on the voting day. And we are trying to make the best use of it," he said.

Electors can carry smartphones at polling stations in 11 assembly constituencies for accessing QR codes from the voters' helpline app in case they have not brought the voters' slip to the booth.

Delhi has 70 Assembly constituencies and one constituency in each of the 11 districts will have this tech-driven facility.

The 11 are Sultanpur Majra, Seelampur, Ballimaran, Bijwasan, Trilokpuri, Shakur Basti, Nee Delhi, Rohtas Nagar, Chhatarpur, Rajouri Garden and Jangpura According to Singh, focussed campaigns were carried by his office to reach out to different sections of voters, aiming to break the "urban apathy" of the electorate.

Special campaigns were carried out in 30 constituencies which had seen lower turnout in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Singh hoped that the twin-edged strategy of more thrust on use of technology complemented with massive campaigns in the run-up, will lead to a greater turnout than in 2015.

A mega, multi-domain outdoor campaign is being carried out by the Delhi CEO Office to bring large number of electorate to the polling booths, besides jingles on all major FM stations.

The ruling AAP is going into the Delhi election with the hope to repeat its stellar performance in the last assembly polls, while the BJP, which bagged all seven seats here in the Lok Sabha election, will be aiming at expanding its vote share in the national capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party had got 54.3 per cent votes in the 2015 Assembly polls, while the Bharatiya Janata Party got a vote share of 32 per cent and the Congress managed to bag just 9.6 per cent of the total votes polled.

The AAP will fight the polls on a depleted strength of 60 MLAs as it had to concede one seat to the BJP in the subsequent bypoll, while six of the lawmakers were disqualified over joining other parties.

Voting will begin at 8 am on Saturday for the assembly election in Delhi. Tight security arrangements will be in place with extra vigil in Shaheen Bagh.