Delhi assembly polls: Election authorities seize Rs 194 crore cash, valuables and drugs

NEW DELHI: Election authorities have so far seized cash and valuables worth more than Rs 194 crore since the model code of conduct kicked in over three weeks ago for the Delhi assembly polls.
Delhi's chief electoral officer R Alice Vaz said the poll officials also received 5,244 online complaints of alleged violation of the model code of conduct on its cVIGIL mobile application, which were resolved with an average resolution time of 35 minutes.
Addressing a press conference on arrangements made by the Delhi election office for the assembly elections, Vaz said nearly 1.1 lakh civil officials – polling teams, counting staff, flying squad, sector magistrates, expenditure monitors, control room officials, micro observers, and volunteers – and 70,000 security personnel were being deployed. She also launched the ‘Delhi Election – 2025 QMS', a mobile application on queue management system for people to check online the exact number of voters in queue at their respective polling booths.
Over 1.5 crore voters, including 82.7 lakh men and 72.3 lakh women, will be eligible to cast their votes on Wednesday for the 70-member Delhi assembly at 13,766 polling booths spread across 2,696 locations across the city.
Vaz said adequate arrangements were in place to conduct free and fair polls. She said the testing and commissioning of electronic voting machines were completed, and mock polls were also conducted in randomly selected EVMs in the presence of candidates or their representatives. Since New Delhi and Janakpuri have more than 16 candidates each contesting this time, Vaz said double ballot units would be installed at polling booths in the two assembly constituencies.
"Voter information slips have already been distributed to nearly 70% of voters, and the rest will also get it soon. But voter slip is not a standalone identification document for the purpose of voting. The voters will have to carry the electoral photo identity card or any of the 12 alternative identity documents permitted by ECI," Vaz said.
The Delhi CEO said the first and second rounds of training of poll personnel were already completed, and the third round was going on, while the training of the security personnel was done.
Talking about the arrangements at polling stations, Vaz said there was special focus on "inclusivity and accessibility." "We are arranging ramps at all polling stations. In addition, we have arranged 4,217 wheelchairs, while 8,715 trained volunteers will be deployed to help voters. We are arranging the pick and drop facility, which can be availed of via the 1950 helpline, mobile app, or Saksham App. Apart from braille ballot papers, 120 sign language interpreters will also be deployed," she added.
To ensure better turnout of voters, Vaz said that various systematic voters' education and electoral participation activities were being conducted, including running slides in 138 cinema screens.
Colour-coded polling stations, waiting halls, theme-based polling stations, feeding rooms, crèches, and sitting arrangements for people in queue are some other arrangements made by the election officials.
The election officials have so far collected 6,633 postal ballots from eligible senior citizens and persons with disabilities, while 13,958 votes have been cast by officials assigned election duties.