The State Election Commission, Delhi, has made all arrangements for vote counting. Ten counting centres have been set up at Kanjhawala, Pitampura, Bharat Nagar, Civil Lines, Rouse Avenue, Dwarka, Najafgarh, Gole Market, Pushp Vihar and Mandawali
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The counting of votes for Delhi MCD bypolls to 12 wards began on Wednesday, amid tight security at 10 counting centres in Delhi, reported news agency PTI.
Of the 12 wards where voting was held on November 30, nine were earlier held by the BJP and the remaining by AAP.
The State Election Commission, Delhi, has made all arrangements for vote counting. Ten counting centres have been set up at Kanjhawala, Pitampura, Bharat Nagar, Civil Lines, Rouse Avenue, Dwarka, Najafgarh, Gole Market, Pushp Vihar and Mandawali.
Each centre will handle counting for specific wards, with strong room facilities and secure entry and exit protocols, the Commission said in a statement.
The strong rooms where the EVMs are stored after polling were secured with adequate security measures, including round-the-clock CCTV surveillance and the deployment of paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel.
Nearly 1,800 Delhi Police personnel and 10 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed.
Around 700 personnel have been deployed for counting, and facilities have been provided for the candidates and their authorised counting agents, it added.
The vote percentage in the bypolls was 38.51 per cent as compared to 50.47 per cent in the MCD elections held for 250 wards in 2022.
All eyes will be especially fixed on the results of Shalimar Bagh B and Dwarka B wards.
The Shalimar Bagh B ward was vacated after sitting BJP councillor Rekha Gupta won the assembly polls in February and became Delhi's chief minister.
Kamaljeet Sehrawat, BJP MP from West Delhi, earlier held the Dwarka B ward.
Politically, the by-elections carry significant implications for the configuration of the 250-member MCD House.
The BJP currently holds 115 councillors, while AAP has 99, the Indraprastha Vikas Party has 15, and Congress has 8.
The BJP is aiming for a complete sweep of all 12 seats, an outcome that would elevate its tally to 127 and consolidate a clear majority.
A good performance by the BJP is expected to add to the stature of Chief Minister Gupta and present a positive public report card for her e-bus, health and insurance welfare schemes and arrangements for Chhath devotees.
The Election Commission will publish all results on its official portal, ceodelhi.gov.in, once counting concludes.
(With inputs from PTI)
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