Counting of votes for MCD polls tomorrow

New Delhi, Apr 6 (UNI) Counting of votes polled in elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, held in 272 wards spread across 12 zones in Delhi, will be taken up tomorrow.

Fate of 2575 candidates, nearly half of them independents, will be decided in the counting to be taken up at 17 polling centres across Delhi.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for counting of votes at the centres, which will begin at 0800 hours.

Sources in the State Election Commission said the results of the polling are likely to be out by noon.

Nearly 43 per cent of the electorate, two per cent less than in the 2002 MCD polls, cast their vote in yesterday's polling which was by and large peaceful.

With technical snags in EVMs, used for the first time, clashes between rivals and complaints of 'misappropriation' pouring in from several quarters, the State Election Commissioner S P Marwah ordered repolling at ten places spread over four wards today.

Repoll took place at one place in Pratap Vihar, three polling stations in Nithari under Narela police station, five in Vikas Nagar and another in Rana Pratap Bagh.

Both the BJP and the Congress have expressed confidence over their party's prospects saying the voters had expressed faith in them.

DPCC president Ram Babu Sharma said the Congress would romp back home with a win of nearly 150 seats.

On the other hand, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan claimed that his party would secure a two-thirds majority in the new MCD.

Unlike the previous elections to the MCD, this year's polls are witnessing a three cornered contest with the ruling Congress and the Opposition a BJP having to contend with a third front comprising the NCP, Left parties and the Jan Morcha.

Along with the Congress and the BJP, the Left parties, along with the NCP, Jan Morcha and the Janata Dal (Secular) have formed an "anti-Congress" and the "anti-BJP" secular front on the issue of price rise, increasing power tariff and sealing and demolition.

Also in the fray on several seats is former Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana's Bharatiya Janshakti Party which is contesting on over 250 seats.

Then, there are the Resident Welfare Associations of various areas who are also in the fray and who could "spoil the party" for the Congress and the BJP candidates.

UNI