Delhi polls: Arvind Kejriwal casts vote with family; parents in wheelchairs

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal accompanied by his wife Sunita and his elderly parents cast his vote for the Delhi Assembly elections on Wednesday morning. The 56-year-old former Delhi chief minister, along with his parents Gobind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi, both of whom were in wheelchairs, exercised their democratic rights at the Lady Irwin Senior Secondary School in the capital.

Speaking to the media after voting, Kejriwal expressed his gratitude for his parents’ efforts despite their frailty. "My parents were very excited to cast their votes, and they have put in all their efforts to do that. I appeal to the people of Delhi to come out and cast their votes for the development of the city," he said.
His wife, Sunita Kejriwal, also shared her belief in the wisdom of Delhi's electorate. "People of Delhi are very intelligent. We trust them. They don't tolerate 'gundagardi' [hooliganism]. We firmly believe that the people will make the right choice," she remarked.

Polling began at 7 am, with over 1.5 crore voters eligible to vote across 70 constituencies. The elections are seen as a critical test for Kejriwal’s AAP, which is aiming for a third consecutive term in office. The New Delhi constituency is especially high-profile, with Kejriwal facing off against BJP's Parvesh Verma and Congress's Sandeep Dikshit.
While the AAP remains focused on its governance record and welfare schemes, BJP and Congress are looking to reclaim ground in a city where they have historically held power. Kejriwal, however, remains hopeful. "The one who works for Delhi will earn the votes of the people," he said.
By 1 pm, Delhi's single-phase assembly elections saw a voter turnout of 33.31%, with North-East district leading at 39.51%. The lowest turnout was recorded in Central Delhi at 29.74%. Other districts reported the following turnout rates: South West (35.44%), New Delhi (29.89%), East (33.66%), North (32.44%), North West (33.17%), Shahdara (35.81%), South (32.67%), South East (32.27%), and West (30.87%).
Amid tight security, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj raised concerns of election interference, claiming Delhi Police tried to stop voters at a polling station in Chirag Delhi. BJP leader Manoj Tiwari cast his vote, confident of BJP's victory. AAP, aiming for a third consecutive term, faces strong competition from BJP, which is eyeing a comeback after 27 years. Congress, once dominant, hopes for a return after failing to win seats in the last two elections.