High-stakes Delhi MCD polls today
The stage is set for the high-stakes civic polls in Delhi on Sunday, with poll authorities and security forces all geared up for the elections, largely being seen as a three-way contest among the AAP, the BJP and the Congress. Over 1.45 crore electors are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections to the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, in which 1,349 candidates are in the fray.
Polling will be held from 8 am to 5:30 pm and the votes will be counted on December 7.
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).
This will be the first civic election after the fresh delimitation exercise, and the poll will be held days after the first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections, and a day ahead of its second phase. Authorities have set up 13,638 polling stations across Delhi for the exercise.
On the other hand, with an aim for hassle free civic polls, the Delhi police have deployed 40,000 security personnel at every nook and corner of the national capital.
According to the Delhi police, a total of 40,000 personnel of Delhi Police will be deployed across the city on the polling day on December 4.
“A total of 20,000 security personnel of Home Guards have also been asked from the neighbouring Uttar
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana for the election duty,” said an official.
“As per analysis of all booths, there will be heavy deployment on the critical booths and communally sensitive areas,” said the official.
A total of 108 companies of Central Armed Police Force and State Armed Police will also be deployed so that the election process passes off peacefully.
Police teams will also monitor the recent communal hit areas with the help of drones.
“Police have also increased its visibility in every district and frequent checks are being done by teams,” said a senior police official.
Both the AAP and the BJP have exuded confidence that they will emerge victorious in the polls while the Congress is seeking to regain lost turf.