Delhi All Set For Assembly Polls: Report

New Delhi, Dec 4, IRNA – Delhi is all set for a free, fair and peaceful election to the 70-member state assembly on December 4. A total of 810 candidates are in the fray in the three-cornered contest between ruling Congress, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and newly emerged Aam Admi Party (AAP). A total of 224 independents are also in the fray. A total of 108 Muslims are contesting the Delhi assembly elections, a slight increase from five years ago. Although Muslims account for 11 percent of Delhi's population of 16 million, the capital has only five Muslim legislators. Among the major political parties, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party have put up the highest number of 11 Muslims. The number of candidates in Wednesdays balloting to elect a 70-member legislature is 810. The figure of Muslim candidates has risen from 92 (out of 875) in 2008 to 108 now. In their fight for supremacy in the Delhi Assembly elections, Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are trying to woo voters with some interesting assurances in varied fields. Congress led by Sheila Dikshit hard selling its development agenda for an unprecedented fourth successive win. A total of 1.19 crore electorates, including over 4.05 lakh first time voters, will be eligible to exercise their franchise tomorrow for 70 assembly constituencies of Delhi. During the last assembly election in 2008, the total number of voters were 1,07,38,416 including 59,75,917 males and 47,62,499 females. There are a total of 11,763 polling stations out of which 630 are critical and hyper critical. For the first time, Delhi will use the option of None of the Above (NOTA). Electors will have the option to use NOTA button, which will be below the name of the last candidate on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), if they find none of the candidates suitable. NOTA option will be printed in pink on EVMs. Delhi Election Commission Tuesday said it was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair and peaceful election to the 70-member state assembly tomorrow. We have completed all the preparations to conduct free and fair election on December 4 in safe environment, said Delhi Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev, pti reported. Dev appealed to Delhi residents to come out and vote. The EC is hopeful of record voter turnout this time. In 2008 assembly polls, the overall voting percentage stood at 57.58 per cent. The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangement for the polling tomorrow. Over 64,000 Delhi police personnel and 107 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed to help conduct a free and fair election. Besides, flying squads, static surveillance teams and video surveillance teams will also be keeping a close watch on the conduct of the poll. Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today declared December 4 as a public holiday in the national capital in view of the assembly polls in the national capital. In a notification, Jung said all government offices and local/ autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings under the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi will observe a public holiday on account of general election to the legislative assembly of Delhi. Delhi voters working in the National Capital Region will get a paid leave tomorrow after the Election Commission directed the employers of public and private companies to allow them to exercise their franchise. The Legislative Assembly is selected for period of five years. It will be the fifth assembly, which will be selected through the Delhi state assembly elections, 2013. The elections in Delhi and four other states are being seen as the semi-final for the Lok Sabha polls next year./end