Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday accused the Delhi Police of deliberately setting up barricades at polling stations in areas considered strongholds of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), raising concerns over accessibility for voters. Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that police personnel had placed barricades 200 meters away from polling booths, preventing vehicles such as bikes, scooters, and cars from reaching the stations. He cited an instance at the Chirag Delhi polling station and questioned the motive behind such restrictions, wondering how elderly and differently-abled voters would manage to reach the polling booths.
Taking to social media platform X, Saurabh Bharadwaj demanded an explanation from the Election Commission of India and the Delhi Police regarding the legal basis for such measures. His remarks have sparked political debate as voting continues across all 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi. The election, which is witnessing a three-way contest between the ruling AAP, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress, holds significant stakes for all parties.
Meanwhile, polling began early on Wednesday, with prominent leaders casting their votes. Among the early voters were President Droupadi Murmu, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Other notable figures who exercised their franchise included former Delhi deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, and Delhi Chief Electoral Officer R Alice Vaz. Candidates from key constituencies, including AAP’s Greater Kailash candidate Saurabh Bharadwaj, BJP’s Karawal Nagar candidate Kapil Mishra, Congress’ New Delhi candidate Sandeep Dikshit, and Kalkaji candidate Alka Lamba, were also among the early voters.
The high-stakes Delhi Assembly election has around 1.56 crore eligible voters who will determine the fate of the three main political contenders. AAP is eyeing a third consecutive term in power, while the BJP is making a determined effort to reclaim Delhi after being out of power for over 25 years. The Congress, which once held an unchallenged reign in Delhi for 15 years until 2013, is striving for a comeback after failing to secure a single seat in the last two elections.
As polling progresses, security arrangements have been heightened, with law enforcement agencies ensuring smooth conduct across the city. However, the allegations made by Saurabh Bharadwaj have added a layer of political controversy to the voting process, with questions being raised about the fairness and accessibility of the electoral exercise. With the results set to be announced on February 8, all eyes are now on how the voters of Delhi will shape the political landscape of the capital.
