Delhi Lok Sabha Election 2024 | Highlights on May 25, 2024

The excitement of casting votes in the Lok Sabha polls was short-lived for some electors in Delhi, who found their names missing from the voters’ list, even as they claimed that their documents were in order.

Younus Salim and Azim Khan, employees at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, went to exercise their franchise at Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya in the President’s Estate only to find their names missing from the voters’ list.

“My husband’s name is missing from the list. I have cast my vote and even my children could cast their votes,” said Shakeela Khan, Azim Khan’s wife.

“We were here to vote for a change in the country but my name was not there in the list. Only my name was missing while the names of my family members were there. I have valid documents. We cannot exercise our right in a democracy,” Azim Khan said.

- PTI

BJP leader Shazia Ilmi took a jibe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi after they cast their votes on Saturday during the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls and said that the party has reached a stage where it did not have its own candidate when they went to vote and they voted for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that defeated them in Delhi and Punjab.

Shazia Ilmi said, “The Congress is the oldest party. It was at the forefront of the independence struggle. It is called the ‘Grand Old’ party. The condition of this party is such that Rahul and Sonia Gandhi went to cast votes but they did not have their own candidate. They voted for a party that defeated them in Delhi and Punjab, and abused and insulted them during the Anna Hazare movement.”

- ANI

Elderly voters in the national capital braved the scorching heat to cast their ballot, with some reaching polling centres after a one-kilometre walk and few others being brought to the booths on stretchers.

According to the data shared by the office of Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, there were 97,823 voters aged above 85. More than 5,400 voters had chosen the home-voting facility made available by the Election Commission this time to electors above the age of 85. Some of the notable personalities who exercised their franchise using the home-voting facility included former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former deputy prime minister LK Advani, ex-Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi, among others.

- PTI

Serving voters with tea and snacks, handing out chilled water bottles to polling officials and electors and holding mobile phones while people went inside the polling booths to cast their votes, some good samaritans came to the rescue on the election day in Delhi.

Ashok Randhawa, the president of Sarojini Nagar Market Traders’ Association, was seen distributing chilled water bottles outside a polling booth in Nirman Bhawan.

“I will go to other polling booths in the New Delhi constituency as well. Before casting my vote, I will go to other booths too. I have arranged for 100 cartons of drinking water bottles and have given bulk orders for bread pakoras, mathris and tea so that I can serve everyone,” he told PTI.

Mr. Randhawa said he does this for every election.

“My mother was a social worker and she is my inspiration. I am doing this out of my own pocket,” he said, as he also handed out water bottles to the mediapersons, who were covering the polls.

- PTI

Congress candidate for North East Delhi, Kanhaiya Kumar, visits his constituency during the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in New Delhi on May 25, 2024.

A voter turnout of 44.58% was recorded till 3 p.m. in Delhi,where polling is underway for its seven Lok Sabha constituencies on May 25. The highest turnout was recorded in the North East Delhi constituency at 47.85%, while the New Delhi seat had the lowest voting percentage at 42.17.

According to data from the poll body, the turnout at 3 p.m. in East Delhi was at 44.70%, Chandni Chowk at 43.24%, North West Delhi at 44.78%, South Delhi at 42.96% and West Delhi 44.91%.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, polit bureau members Brinda Karat and Prakash Karat and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Annie Raja were among the Left leaders who cast their votes in Delhi on Saturday and appealed to voters to exercise their franchise.

Talking to PTI after casting his vote at Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, Yechury said: “I voted for India, for my country. I voted for democracy, unity of my country and my Constitution. The people of India will win. Therefore India will win. That is what I hope, I expect, and am sure of.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 25 chastised former Pakistan minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain after he called for the defeat of “forces of hate and extremism” in the Lok Sabha elections, saying the polls are India’s internal matter and it will not tolerate interference by the “biggest sponsors of terrorism”.

After casting his vote, Mr. Kejriwal, who is the AAP’s national convenor, shared a picture on X of his family members showing fingers marked in ink and said he voted against “dictatorship, inflation and unemployment”.

Sharing Mr. Kejriwal’s post on X with the hashtags “MorePower” and “IndiaElection2024”, Hussain said, “May peace and harmony defeat forces of hate and extremism.” Minutes after Hussain’s post, Kejriwal hit back at him, saying his post was unnecessary. - PTI

According to CEO office, a voter turnout percentage of 34.37% was recorded in Delhi as of 1 p.m. The highest turnout was observed in Northeast Delhi at 37.31%, while the lowest turnout was recorded in New Delhi at 31.66%.

- Satvika Mahajan

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on May 25 alleged she had to wait for almost an hour to cast her vote as the battery of the EVM control unit at her polling booth “drained out”.

Ms. Karat had gone to cast her vote at a polling booth set up at St. Columba’s School in the New Delhi constituency. She said she had to wait for around 50 minutes before she could cast her ballot, expressing concerns over arrangements made by the Election Commission.

“We came to vote, they are saying that the machine’s battery is down. If the machine’s battery is down early in the morning, imagine what is the condition of the Election Commission,” she said. - PTI

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s daughter Miraya, a first-time voter, cast the ballot along with her brother Raihan on Saturday, and said youths should come out and vote for a change.

Accompanied by their parents, the two cast their votes at a booth on Lodhi Road in the New Delhi constituency.

“My only message to the youth is to just come out and vote. It is our job to make a change so we need to come out and do it,” Ms. Mirayra told PTI Videos.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said unemployment and price rise are the “biggest issues” in the country and exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc will emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha elections, with an undercurrent in its favour.

Priyanka Gandhi made the remarks after casting her ballot in the morning.

Exuding confidence that the Opposition INDIA bloc will emerge victorious in the elections, she said price rise and unemployment are the “biggest issues” for everyone in the country.

PTI

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday cast his vote at a polling in the national capital Delhi. 

Addressing mediapersons, Mr. Khan said “Soon, India will emerge as a real power in the world. As far as elections is concerned, this is the festival of democracy of the rights and sovereignty of the people of India. This is a great feeling to be a part of it”.

ANI

A voter turnout of 21.69% was recorded till 11 a.m. in Delhi, where polling is underway for its seven Lok Sabha constituencies on Saturday.

The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer said that at 24.49%, the highest turnout was recorded in the North East Delhi constituency while Chandni Chowk had the lowest voting percentage at 18.55%.

PTI

Amid voting for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh on Saturday appealed to the people to vote for “strengthening the Constitution and the end of dictatorship.” 

“Elections are a festival of democracy and India is the biggest democracy in the world. I appeal to the people of India, with folded hands, to vote for strengthening the Constitution of India, for protecting democracy, and for the end of dictatorship. Today, we all know that when there is a political, democratic system, everything is governed through Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. Good representatives will go there, work for schools, hospitals, electricity and water,” Mr. Singh told ANI.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that people rejected lies, hatred and propaganda and gave priority to real issues related to their lives in the first five phases of the Lok Sabha elections.

He urged people to come out in large numbers in the sixth phase of the elections on Saturday and vote for their rights and the future of their families.

PTI

The minimum temperature in Delhi settled four notches above normal at 30.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday as Delhiites stepped out to vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The national capital is under a ‘yellow’ alert, according to the Met department.

PTI

A voter turnout of 8.94% was recorded till 9 a.m. in Delhi, where polling is underway for its seven Lok Sabha constituencies on Saturday.

The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer said that at 10.15%, the highest turnout was recorded in the North East Delhi constituency while New Delhi had the lowest voting percentage till 9 a.m. at 7.04%. 

Poll officials said there were no reports of technical snags or delays in the commencement of voting at any polling station.

PTI

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi cast her vote in the sixth phase of the general elections at a polling station in Delhi. 

After casting her vote Priyanka Vadra said that unemployment and inflation are the major issues and everybody wants that the election should be fought on these issues. 

On being asked about Rahul Gandhi voting for AAP and Arvind Kejriwal voting for Congress in the elections, Ms. Priyanka said, “We are keeping aside our grievances and casting votes for our Constitution and democracy. ‘ Mujhe iss baat par garv hai’ (I am proud of this).”

ANI

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi cast their votes in the sixth phase of the general elections. 

The mother-son duo also clicked a selfie outside the polling station after casting their votes. Earlier the Congress sounded confident about the chances of the INDIA alliance in the polls.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s son and daughter cast their votes in the sixth phase of the general elections. Priyanka’s son Raihan Rajiv Vadra and daughter Miraya cast their votes in Delhi. 

Raihan Rajiv Vadra told ANI, “I think this is a very important election. I urge all youth to vote to save our constitution and to vote in a way that brings positive change.” 

Ms. Miraya, who is also a first time voter urged that everybody should come out and vote. 

“Don’t sit idle and make a change,” she said.

As the sixth phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections is underway, President Droupadi Murmu cast her vote at a polling booth in the national capital. 

After casting her vote, President Murmu showed her inked finger. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar along with his wife Sudesh Dhankhar also arrived at a polling booth in Delhi to cast their vote.

Vice President Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar showed their inked fingers after casting their votes. 

After casting his vote, Vice President Dhankhar says, “...Voting is both a responsibility and a power. India is the world’s most vibrant, active and effective democracy.”

ANI

“I appeal to all my voting brothers and sisters to definitely come and cast their vote. Ask your family, relatives and friends to also vote. In this great festival of democracy, each of your votes will be against dictatorial thinking and strengthen the Indian democracy and constitution. Go to the polling booth and show with your vote that there is democracy in India and democracy will remain,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal posted on X.

Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, Harsh Malhotra, cast his vote in Shahdara during the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls in the national capital on Saturday. 

He cast his vote at polling booth number 154 located in Gandhi Memorial Bharatiya Janata Party Candidate Harsh Malhotra from East Delhi Lok Sabha seat while exercising his democratic rights, casts his vote in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls. School, Shahdara, in East Delhi. 

The Aam Aadmi Party from the INDIA bloc has fielded Kuldeep Kumar from the seat. All seven Lok Sabha constituencies of the capital city of Delhi are undergoing polls today. These constituencies include New Delhi, North East Delhi, East Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, North West Delhi and Chandni Chowk.

ANI

Former India cricketer and BJP East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir cast his vote during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha Election 2024 in Delhi on Saturday. 

Speaking to ANI, Mr. Gambhir asked voters to come out in large numbers and cast their votes during the sixth phase of the election. He added that casting vote is people’s power. 

The former cricketer also lauded the government and said they have worked for development in the last ten years. 

“All I want to say is that everyone should come out and vote in large numbers. This is our power, this is our democracy. The Govt has worked for development in the last 10 years...,” Mr. Gambhir said.

ANI

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi on Saturday cast her vote in the sixth phase of the general elections and alleged that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi V.K. Saxena, held a meeting with Delhi Police to slow down the voting process in areas which are strongholds of the INDIA bloc. 

“We have received official information that last evening, L-G had called a meeting of Delhi Police officials and instructions were given to Delhi Police that in all the areas which are strongholds of the INDIA alliance, voting should be slowed down in those areas. If this happens then it will be a violation of free and fair elections. So we hope that the Election Commission will take cognizance of this,” Ms. Atishi alleged.

ANI

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, Bansuri Swaraj, cast her vote on Saturday. Ms. Swaraj urged the voters to participate in the democratic process.

“It is the mega festival of democracy today. I want to appeal to the people to come out and cast their votes,” Ms. Swaraj said. 

Earlier she offered prayers at Jhandewalan temple before casting her vote. “I have come here to take blessings from Jhandewali Mata and then I will also cast my vote,” she said.

Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of the late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, is running against AAP’s MLA Somnath Bharti.

ANI

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and his wife Lakshmi Puri cast their votes at a polling booth in Delhi on Saturday. 

Mr. Puri said that it will not be a daunting task to get more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections because the Bharatiya Janata Party has already secured 303 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

ANI

National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma cast her vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election on Saturday and expressed pride in becoming the first senior citizen to vote in that particular booth. 

“First voter and first proud senior citizen to vote in this booth. Ladies and gentlemen please vote and choose your leader,” Ms. Sharma posted on X with a photo showing her inked finger and a certificate from the District Election Office. 

ANI

As the polling day got underway in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was one of the first at his designated polling booth to cast his vote. The Minister expressed his confidence that the Voters of Delhi would once again support the Modi government and Viksit Bharat. 

EAM Jaishankar, while showing his inked finger after casting his vote for the sixth phase, highlighted that he was the first male voter in the booth. 

“We have just cast our vote and I was the first male voter in this booth. We want people to come out and cast their votes as this is a decisive moment for the country,” he said. 

“I believe that the voters in Delhi will once again support Viksit Bharat and the Modi government,” he stressed.

ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked people on Saturday to vote in large numbers in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election, saying every vote counts. Democracy thrives when people are engaged and active in the electoral process, he said in a post on ‘X’.

“I urge all those who are voting in the 6th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to vote in large numbers. Every vote counts, make yours count too! Democracy thrives when its people are engaged and active in the electoral process. I specially urge women voters and youth voters to vote in large numbers,” the Prime Minister added.

Polling for the seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi began on Saturday morning in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election amid tight security arrangements, an official said.

The weather department has issued a “yellow alert” for the day and predicted that the mercury is likely to reach a maximum of 44 degrees Celsius. The Delhi election department is making adequate preparations for voters because of the heat.

People were seen queuing outside polling stations even before the commencement of voting at 7 am.

PTI

Raj Kumar Anand — the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat — on Tuesday said his party is looking to increase its vote share in the general election while eyeing the role of a “kingmaker” in the Delhi Assembly poll next year. 

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Delhi Chief Electoral Officer P. Krishnamurthy appealed to all eligible voters to exercise their franchise despite the scorching heat, as he called for breaking voting records.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Delhi had recorded a voter turnout of around 65%, which dipped to around 60% in the 2019 general elections.

Mr. Krishnamurthy also conducted an inspection of two polling centres in the New Delhi area to review the preparedness and arrangements. He also visited EVM dispatch centre at NP Bengali School in Gole Market, where EVMs and VVPAT are being distributed to the polling parties.

PTI

Beyond the upscale localities of Saket and Vasant Kunj lies an area once called ‘Dilli Dehat’ — a cluster of nearly 100 villages spread across Lado Sarai, Palam, Kapashera, and adjoining areas where farming was the biggest source of livelihood. Over time, with the arrival of development projects and businesses, farmlands gave way to residential spaces, and most villages became urbanised.

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