Long queues discouraging voters: Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the slow rate of polling and long queues were discouraging voters from casting their votes.

He urged the Election Commission to look into the matter.

"Polling slowed down in many places. Long queues. Its taking 2 hrs in some places. Voters returning," Kejriwal stated in a tweet.

"As per rules, 3 voters r allowed inside booth at a time. They r allowing only 1 voter, which has slowed down voting. Even lunch breaks being taken which is against rules. EC shud immediately intervene," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, polling in the single-phased legislative assembly elections, which began at 8 a.m. today amid tight security, crossed the 35 percent mark till 1 pm.

According to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, all arrangements are in place to ensure free and fair polling.

About 55,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure hassle free voting. The police will also undertake patrolling in different parts of the capital to prevent the distribution of liquor, money or any other allurements.

Over 1.33 crore electorate will decide the fate of 673 candidates.

The polling is presently on at 12,177 polling stations. Of these, 714 have been declared as critical and 191 as highly critical. Voting will continue till 6 p.m. in the evening.