MCD bypolls see 38.5% voter turnout; parties trade charges

Voting for the bypolls across 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi picked up slowly on Sunday before reaching a tentative turnout of 38.5% by 5.30 p.m., the State Election Commission (SEC) said.

The voting process was largely smooth and no disruptions due to technical glitches or EVM malfunctions were reported, an SEC official said. A total of 3.7 lakh men, 3.2 lakh women and 52 transgender persons were eligible to vote across 580 booths. Fifty-one candidates, including 26 women, contested the bypolls, which marked the first electoral face off between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress after the Assembly election in February.

Of the 12 wards, nine were held by the BJP and the rest by AAP councillors. Chandni Mahal recorded the highest turnout at 55.9%  while Greater Kailash saw the lowest turnout at 26.7%.

Votes will be counted on December 3. The SEC will share the final voter turnout on Monday.

Adeshwar Kant, Joint Secretary of the SEC, said municipal elections, particularly bypolls, consistently witness voter apathy. “This is despite running an extensive election awareness campaign,” he said.

‘Same photo, 90 voters’

At a polling booth in Ashok Vihar, the Congress alleged that the same photograph appeared in the voter list for over 90 different voters. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said he had earlier written to the SEC highlighting the “theft of the right to cast vote”.

In response, Mr. Kant said such issues fell under the purview of the Election Commission of India (EC) and that the SEC had forwarded the complaint immediately. “The electoral roll cannot be updated in such a short time. Booth officials, returning officers and election observers have been alerted to verify voter details individually,” he said. 

Several voters expressed hope that the election of councillors would revive civic works stalled for nearly nine months. Mohammed Aashqeen, 45, from Chandni Mahal, told The Hindu, “We face significant civic challenges, from congested lanes to licensing issues, and our previous councillor used to hear us out. I voted with faith that our issues will continue to be addressed.”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the party expected a strong performance, citing feedback from workers and visits to seven wards.

“Despite traditionally low voter turnout in local elections, the BJP’s organisational strength has proved beneficial,” he said. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also cast her vote in Shalimar Bagh as did several senior BJP leaders in their respective wards.

Meanwhile, AAP levelled allegations of “foul play”. In a post on X, AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed a local Station House Officer was “campaigning for the BJP candidate in plain clothes” and accused the EC of “inaction”. Mr. Sachdeva rejected the charges, accusing AAP of attempting “bogus voting”.