In a contest seen as the first real check on Delhi’s political pulse after the BJP’s landslide victory in the assembly elections earlier this year, voting opened this morning for bypolls across 12 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) wards. The outcome is expected to signal whether the capital’s voters are prepared to reinforce the BJP’s mandate or offer space for a fightback from AAP.
POLLING UNDER TIGHT SECURITY
Balloting began at 7.30 am across 580 booths set up at 143 locations, with voting to continue until 5.30 pm. The Delhi State Election Commission said 2,320 polling personnel are on duty, backed by 2,265 additional staff, 580 Home Guards and 13 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces to ensure a smooth exercise.
At Shalimar Bagh, where visuals showed a steady flow of early voters, residents spoke of a sense of responsibility. One voter said those elected must be people “who take society forward”, while another described voting as a duty to place “country, society, and family in the safest hands”.
PRESTIGE BATTLE FOR BJP, RECOVERY TEST FOR AAP
Fifty-one candidates, including 26 women, are contesting. The BJP has fielded the maximum number of women candidates (8), followed by AAP (6) and Congress (5).
Of the 12 wards, nine were earlier with the BJP and three with AAP. The contest is particularly significant in Shalimar Bagh B and Dwarka B, both important turf for the BJP. Rekha Gupta held the Shalimar Bagh B ward before rising to the chief minister’s post, while Dwarka B had been represented by West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat.
For AAP, these bypolls present a chance to recover lost ground after its defeat in the assembly elections, but the party suffered a setback on the eve of polling when senior leader and two-time MLA Rajesh Gupta switched to the BJP.
TECH-ENABLED MONITORING, WOMEN-LED BOOTHS
Polling stations are being monitored in real time through webcasting. QR codes at booths allow voters to instantly share feedback after casting their ballot.
Each ward has a Model Polling Booth and a ‘Pink Booth’ staffed entirely by women, aimed at creating a more comfortable and inclusive voting environment.
COUNTING ON 3 DECEMBER
Ten strong room-cum-counting centres have been set up to store sealed EVMs. Counting of votes will take place on 3 December, when the political impact of today’s turnout will become clearer.
– Ends
