Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate for Greater Kailash, Saurabh Bharadwaj, on Wednesday accused the Delhi Police of obstructing voters at a polling station in Chirag Delhi during the ongoing Delhi Assembly elections.
Speaking to the media, Bharadwaj alleged that the police had set up barricades around 17-18 polling booths in Chirag Delhi in an effort to influence the election process. He questioned the actions of the police, claiming, “You have been standing here since morning to influence the elections. Why are these barricades being put up? Which senior officer has instructed this? It is clearly intended to disrupt the voting for the poor villagers. The Malviya Nagar ACP and SHO are openly doing this wherever AAP has a stronghold. The SHO even raided our premises last night.”
Bharadwaj added that the police’s actions were preventing voters from accessing the polling stations, particularly those traveling by metro or on foot. “21,000 people are supposed to vote here, but they can’t even reach the polling booths. Why was it allowed for other high-profile figures, like Virendra Sachdeva or President Murmu, to park 200 meters away from the station? There are no guidelines that apply to everyone,” he said.
Responding to these allegations, South Delhi DCP Ankit Chauhan stated that the police would investigate the claims made by Bharadwaj. He clarified, “There is an exception for the elderly or those who cannot walk, allowing them to drive their cars closer to the polling stations. This rule is being followed everywhere. We will look into the areas where Saurabh Bharadwaj is raising concerns.”
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, along with his family, cast their votes at the Lady Irwin Senior Secondary School. Speaking to the media, Kejriwal urged voters to support the ongoing development in Delhi, saying, “My parents were excited to cast their votes today. I urge the people of Delhi to come out and vote for the city’s continued progress. Those who work for Delhi will earn the trust and votes of the public.”
Polling for 70 Assembly seats in Delhi began at 7:00 am on Wednesday and will continue until 6:00 pm. Voting is taking place amid tight security, with several constituencies seeing intense competition.