CEC Brahma says all arrangements in place for free and fair Delhi polls

Chief Election Commissioner Hari Shankar Brahma has said all arrangements are in place for free and fair polling in Delhi tomorrow.

The All India Radio quoted Brahma, as saying in an interview that voters would exercise their franchise safely and in well secured electronic voting booths.

Campaigning for the Assembly elections ended yesterday evening. A total of 673 candidates, including 63 women, are in the race to get elected to the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

On Thursday evening, leaders of various political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress made last-ditch efforts to woo the electorate in the national capital.

The BJP ended its campaign with a flourish, holding road shows in all assembly constituencies of the national capital in its endeavor to make a comeback in Delhi after 16 years. BJP chief Amit Shah fired salvos at his party's rivals, in particular AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal during his rally at Madanpur Khadar.

The BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Kiran Bedi, outlined the party's policies for women's safety and the city's development.

The AAP leaders on their part held a press conference, speeches and various road shows to convince the voters that they would give a stable government this time.

"My dear Delhiites, Vote for the broom to make Delhi the city of your dreams," tweeted Kejriwal.

Congress' chief ministerial candidate Ajay Maken also appeared optimistic and said his party would return to power in Delhi. Maken said the opinion polls, which have predicted a dismal show for the Congress, would be proven wrong.

The polls, which are believed to be a direct fight between the BJP and AAP, have also witnessed a fractiously divided support base for the two parties.

While the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, headed by controversial spiritual leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, pledged its support to the BJP, the All India Imam Association (AIIA) decided to back the AAP this time.

The AAP, which has come up with several promises this time for the betterment of Delhi, also got the support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat.

The results will be declared on February 10.