New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) Amidst great enthusiasm and a festive spirit, voting began for the crucial 70-member Delhi Assembly at 7 am here on Wednesday.
As many as 699 candidates including Chief Minister Aatishi, her predecessor and Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, BJP leaders Parvesh Verma and Ramesh Bidhuri and prominent Congress names like Sandeep Dikshit and Alka Lamba are in fray.
The over a month-long high decibel election campaign in the Union Territory that comprises the National Capital saw the BJP, AAP and the Congress leaders pull out all stops to woo the voters. Each party came up with its share of 'guarantees' to sway the electorate.
The BJP's campaign was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed several rallies. The party has not projected anybody as its CM face.
Besides Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Nayab Singh Saini and other BJP stalwarts addressed several rallies and held colourful road shows.
Delhi is witnessing a triangular contest between the AAP, BJP and Congress. But the main fight is likely to be between the AAP and BJP.
The Congress, however, has campaigned intensely to put up a good show at the hustings.
Party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held several election rallies and road shows and canvassed for their candidates.
Meanwhile, the AAP has also gone all guns blazing to retain Delhi for the fourth term by highlighting its popular schemes like free electricity and water and achievements in the education and health infrastructures.
The intense campaigning, replete with polemics and verbal duels, came to an end on Monday.
More than 1.55 crore voters are eligible to elect their chosen representatives and over 13,000 polling stations have been established.
The votes will be counted on February 8.
UNI RBE SSP ARN