NEW DELHI: A total of 2,575 candidates are now in the fray for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections that will be held on April 5. Releasing the final list of candidates on Friday, a day after the expiry of the deadline for withdrawing nominations, Delhi State Election Commissioner S. P. Marwah said 99.62-lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes at 9,673 polling stations to elect 272 Councillors.

While the Congress has fielded its candidates in all the 272 wards, the Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting 271 seats as the nomination of one of its official candidate -- Sharmila Pandey from Mahavir Enclave -- was rejected by the Commission.

Other prominent parties that are contesting the MCD elections include the Bahujan Samaj Party (224 candidates), the Indian National Lok Dal (149) and the Nationalist Congress Party (135), while 1,216 independent candidates are also the fray. The minimum number of two contestants are fighting from the Rajouri Garden seat and the maximum of 23 candidates are in the fray from the Prem Nagar ward.

Stating that April 5 will be a public holiday, Mr. Marwah said polling will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. where electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in all the polling stations. Counting of votes will take place on April 7.

The Delhi State Election Commissioner said the Model Code of Conduct was being vigorously enforced by the authorities. So far, 6,517 hoardings, 2,069 banners, four wall writings and 5,297 posters have been removed by the Delhi Police and municipal authorities, and 78 FIRs lodged against the defaulters.

According to Mr. Marwah, to cast their votes, electorates will be required to carry voter identity cards. However, those who have not been issued voter ID cards or have misplaced it or lost it and an FIR has been lodged in this connection, they will be allowed to cast vote on production of documents like passport, driving license and PAN card. Ration card will not be permissible as proof of identity, he added.

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