New Delhi: Delhi witnessed turmoil at several places during the ongoing assembly polls for 70 seats. Ruckus reportedly erupted during the polling in the Seelampur as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged fake voting, Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) BJP workers engaged in sloganeering in the Jangpura seat after Delhi's former deputy CM Manish Sisodia alleged cash for votes by the saffron party in the constituency to influence voters. However, the Police refuted Sisodia's claims.
In the Greater Kailash constituencies Chirag Delhi area, AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the police put up barricades to stop voters. The police issued clarification on Bharadwaj's allegations.
Ruckus In Seelampur:
The BJP claimed that some women in burqa polled fake votes. After the allegations, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers came face to face. Both sides raised slogans. Clashes were also reported between the workers of both parties. However, no one was injured.
In the Seelampur seat, AAP's Chaudhary Zubair Ahmad is contesting against Anil Gaur of the BJP and Congress's Abdul Rehman. Notably, Abdul Rehman won the Seelampur seat on the AAP's ticket in the 2020 polls.
Sloganeering in Jangpura:
Meanwhile, In Jangpura, a clash of slogans occurred between AAP and BJP workers, with AAP candidate from Jangpura Assembly constituency, Manish Sisodia was also present at the scene.
Delhi Police rebutted AAP candidate Manish Sisodia's allegation that the BJP was openly taking voters to a building in Jangpura constituency and distributing money to them.
The Delhi Police said in a statement, "The allegations of distribution of money could not be substantiated. The situation is under control and the confusion has been cleared."
The AAP on its official handle on X alleged that money is being distributed to voters adjacent to the BJP booth in the Jangpura assembly.
"In Jangpura, BJP is openly taking voters to a building and distributing money. Money is being distributed to voters in the building adjacent to the BJP booth in Jangpura Assembly. All this is being done under the supervision of Delhi Police and Election Commission. If you have even a little self-respect left, then take action against these murderers of the Constitution," the party said.
AAP's Jangpura candidate Manish Sisodia said, "The BJP candidate was distributing money in this house. Why is the Election Commission not raiding this house?"
Saurabh Bhardwaj's Allegations:
Earlier in the day, AAP's Greater Kailash candidate Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged that the Delhi Police was trying to stop people from casting their votes at a polling station in Chirag Delhi. "You have been standing here since morning to influence elections. Why are the barricades put here? Which Senior Officer of the Delhi Police has asked them to put up barricades? This is all being done to disturb the poor villagers. Malviya Nagar ACP and SHO are doing all of this openly wherever there is a stronghold of AAP," Bhardwaj told reporters.
"The SHO also conducted a raid on our private premises last night. 21,000 people cast their votes here. The Police are doing this in all 17-18 polling booths in Chirag Delhi. People can neither come from the metro nor on the roads to cast their votes...Did Virendra Sachdeva or President Murmu get out of the car 200 metres away from the polling station? There are no guidelines," the AAP minister added.
Responding to Bhardwaj's allegations, South Delhi's DCP Ankit Chauhan clarified that cars are allowed for bringing inside the polling booth for only people who could not walk. "There is an exception for the elderly and those who cannot walk. For them, bringing their car inside is allowed. This rule is being implemented everywhere. We will investigate the places where he (Saurabh Bharadwaj) is raising concerns about," Chauhan told the media.
A voter turnout of 33.31 per cent was recorded till 1 pm on Wednesday in the single-phase Delhi assembly elections, according to the Election Commission of India.
The votes for the Delhi polls will be counted on February 8