Polling for the crucial Municipal Corporation of Delhi bypolls commenced on Saturday morning across 12 vacant wards, marking a significant political contest in the national capital. The elections are being closely watched as they could influence the balance of power in the capital's civic body.
Voting Process and Security Arrangements
The voting process began at 7:30 AM and will continue until 5:30 PM across all polling stations. Election authorities have established 1,348 polling stations to accommodate the electoral process, with elaborate security measures in place to ensure smooth conduct of the bypolls.
Delhi State Election Commissioner Vijay Dev confirmed that adequate arrangements have been made for the voting process. Over 2.75 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in these bypolls, which will determine the representation for these key municipal wards.
Candidates and Political Significance
A total of 69 candidates are in the fray across the 12 wards, representing major political parties including the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Congress. The bypolls have gained additional significance as they come at a time when political parties are preparing for larger electoral battles in the capital.
The wards going to polls include: Rohini-C, Shalimar Bagh (North), Shalimar Bagh (South), Keshav Puram, Tri Nagar, Patel Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Janakpuri, Hari Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Moti Nagar, and Vishwas Nagar. These wards became vacant due to various reasons including resignations and other circumstances.
Counting and Results Timeline
The fate of all candidates will be decided when counting of votes takes place on July 16. The Delhi State Election Commission has made comprehensive preparations for the counting process, which will be conducted under strict security protocols.
Political analysts are closely monitoring these bypolls as they could indicate shifting voter preferences in the capital. The results might influence future political strategies of major parties in Delhi's municipal governance structure.
Voters have been responding positively to the electoral process, with steady queues observed at many polling stations since morning. Election officials have reported smooth conduct of polling operations so far, with no major incidents disrupting the voting process.
