PIONEER NEWS SERVICE
With the nation’s eyes remaining focused on the high-voltage Delhi assembly election, polling has crossed 33.31 per cent till 1 PM as per the information provided by the Election Commission. The single phase polling is brisk to moderate at most of the 13,766 polling stations set up. A little over 1.56 crore electors are set to seal the fate of candidates in 70 Assembly constituencies. To facilitate high polling in this high-stakes election, a paid holiday was declared for employees in both government and private sectors. Besides, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana announced a paid holiday. In 2020 assembly polls, Delhi had recorded a voter turnout of 62.59 per cent while the turnout was must lower at 56 per cent in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. EC said that polling would continue until 6 PM.
Notably, 699 candidates are trying their electoral luck with the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress having fielded 70 candidates each and the Bharatiya Janata Party 68, giving two seats to its allies — JD(U) and LJP. In the prestigious New Delhi constituency, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is fighting to retain his seat with BJP and Congress having fielded Parvesh Sahib Singh and Sandeep Dikshit, both sons of former chief ministers, respectively.
