MCD election: AAP leader Sanjay Singh asked to leave Janakpuri polling booth

Singh was speaking to reporters after casting his vote when an EC official objected to it. He asked Singh to immediately go out of the polling booth. Singh told him that the had just come to exercise his franchise while his supporters argued with the official.

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh got into a heated argument with election officials when he went to cast his vote at a booth in Janakpuri during the MCD elections on Sunday.

AAP leaders Sanjay Singh had gone to cast his vote at a polling booth in Janakpuri. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

Singh was speaking to reporters inside the polling booth after casting his vote when an EC official objected to it. He asked Singh to immediately go out of the polling booth. Singh told him that the had just come to exercise his franchise while his supporters argued with the official.

“How could you stand here. Just leave now,” the official could be seen telling Singh and his supporters in a video as some policemen tried to pacify him.

Speaking to HT, Singh said: “I had gone to cast my vote. The reporters came to me seeking my views. I was talking to them when a poll official asked me to leave the booth. I immediately left. Nobody was thrown out.”

“We are confident that the AAP is heading toward a big victory in the elections,” Singh told reporters.

Meanwhile, the first three hours of voting for Delhi municipal polls saw thin turnout with election officers in Delhi village areas still waiting for voters. The day began with L-G Anil Baijal turning up early 8am to cast his vote at Masjid Moth polling centre.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also exercised his franchise and said that people should vote against vector-borne diseases this time. Among other leaders who have cast their vote are deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Congress leaders Ajay Maken and BJP leader Dr Harshvardhan.

Over 1.32 crore Delhi voters will cast their votes to choose councillors in 272 wards for three corporations — North, East, South. While the North and South corporations have 104 wards each, the East ward has 64 wards. It is expected that the polling percentage will cross 60% this time, though the voter turnout in the first few hours remained low. In the last civic polls, the voter turnout was a record 54%.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the Capital for the election. Campaigning ended on Friday as over 2,537 candidates are geared up for the final poll battle on Sunday.