Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi and Union Minister Harsh Vardhan were among the early voters in the Delhi Assembly polls where all eyes are on AAP and BJP.
The elections are significant as a defeat for BJP may bolster the Opposition while a victory for the party will increase its confidence ahead of Assembly polls in Bihar later this year.
AAP leader Kejriwal, whose party has put up a spirited fight in the polls, cast his vote at around 10 am at a polling booth in B K Dutt colony of New Delhi constituency.
Earlier, Kejriwal appealed to the voters, in a tweet, to “take a bath and head out to vote with a prayer. You will definitely win’’.
His BJP rival Kiran Bedi, after casting her vote at a polling station in Malviya Nagar, appealed to people to come out in large numbers and vote.
“Today is a historic day. Delhiites have to decide what kind of Delhi they want — a clean Delhi, a secure Delhi, a capable Delhi, a Delhi that respects women. Respecting women is respecting Delhi. I appeal people to come out and vote,” she said.
In the morning, Bedi tweeted a picture taken from her balcony and wrote, “The Sun God from my Window. Magnanimous for all, always. Giving me the Energy to Serve...Thank you.”
In another tweet, she said: “with parents, family, and people’s blessings I have done my duty...now its your turn to vote for Safe+ Delhi.”
Congress President Sonia Gandhi cast her vote at a polling booth at 9:35 am in Nirman Bhavan in Central Delhi.
Congress is not seen as serious contender for power as the fight is largely seen between AAP and BJP.