New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Thirteen wards across three Municipal Corporations of Delhi areas will hold by-polls on Sunday, with the Aam Aadmi Party hoping to make inroads into the BJP stronghold.
The by-polls will witness a three way contest between AAP, BJP and Congress. The results of the by-polls will be declared on May 17.
The MCDs have been a Bharatiya Janata Party stronghold for over eight years.
All three major political parties have staked claim to win the by-polls.
While the BJP is looking to consolidate its hold over the civic bodies, Congress and AAP on the other hand would capitalise on the anti-incumbency against the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission (SEC) has formed two teams to ensure free and fair polling in the civic by-polls.
"Delhi SEC is fully prepared. The polling will commence at 8 a.m. and continue till 5 p.m. We have enhanced the security at polling stations," a state election commission official said.
The SEC has declared as many as 200 polling stations "sensitive".
"Even though security will be there at all the polling booths, wards of Nawada, Ballimaran, Wazirpur, Tehkhand and Matiala are highly sensitive. Thirteen Returning Officers (RO) will monitor the situation in each ward", the official added.
It has also asked the officials on duty to file their report and coordinate with other departments online.
The commission has set up 695 polling booths in the 13 wards. The commission has also enlisted 2,500 personnel for poll duty.
Seven wards in South Delhi Municipal Corporation, four in North Delhi Municipal Corporation and two in East Delhi Municipal Corporation will go for by-polls on Sunday.
The Delhi High Court paved the way for by-polls in 13 wards of MCDs after the Delhi government unsuccessfully argued to pre-pone the civic polls scheduled to be held in 2017.
The wards had fallen vacant after the councillors resigned to contest assembly polls in Delhi.
