New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Delhi to participate in this festival of democracy with full enthusiasm and cast their valuable vote.

The voting for 70 Assembly seats in the national capital began at 7 AM and it will continue till 6 PM.

Taking on social media posts on X, PM Modi said, "Voting for all the seats in the Delhi Assembly elections will be held today. I urge the voters here to participate in this festival of democracy with full enthusiasm and cast their valuable vote."

He also asked the first-time voter to participate in the voting process.

"On this occasion, my special wishes to all the young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Remember—first vote, then refreshment," he wrote on X.

Over one crore fifty-six lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots to decide the fate of 699 candidates. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling in the national capital.

Over 13 thousand seven hundred polling booths have been set up across the 70 assembly constituencies. Out of these, 70 polling stations are being fully manned by women, while 70 others are fully managed by divyangjans.

The Election Commission has deployed more than one lakh and eighty thousand polling personnel to ensure smooth conduct of the election. Assured minimum facilities have been put in place at all polling centres for the voters to ensure a smooth polling process. These include ramps, wheelchairs, medical teams, and creche services.

The Election Commission has also introduced a Queue Management System (QMS) app, which will enable the voters to check real-time crowds at booths. At least 220 companies of paramilitary forces, 35,626 Delhi Police personnel, and 19,000 home guards have been deployed by the Election Commission to ensure peaceful voting.

Out of one crore fifty six lakh eligible voters, over 83 lakh are male, around 72 lakh female and 1 thousand two hundred 67 third gender voters, who are expected to exercise their franchise. Besides, 783 voters are above 100 years of age.

Earlier, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena appealed to the voters in the national capital to participate in the festival of democracy by casting their vote on Wednesday.

In his message, Saxena said, "The vote is a voice, and it provides the power to the people of the city to shape Delhi in the way they want to shape it."

He said that the people's participation in this electoral festival is the cornerstone of a strong and vibrant democracy and urged the residents of the city to come together to strengthen democracy and shape the future of Delhi.

UNI JA ARN