Delhi votes today

“People have experienced five years of BJP rule in MCD. People keep a close watch on everybody and I am confident that they will vote for Congress in all the three municipalities. The voters of Delhi do not vote on caste-based issues. They are conscious of the development around them and will vote for development. There has been a wave in support of Congress across the city,” said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

She said the election to the trifurcated municipal corporations will not be a “referendum” on her government,as it is being fought on local issues. “The election will not be a referendum on my government,as is being projected by the BJP. How can it be a referendum? The election is being fought on local issues,” Dikshit said.

This election is important for Dikshit as she strongly backed the decision to split the MCD,despite opposition from a section of Congress leaders.

“This election would be historic,as for the first time people will vote for the trifurcated MCD,” Dikshit said.

On BJP highlighting the increase in prices of essential commodities in the city,Dikshit said price-rise is not an issue in the polls. She said Delhi is the “cheapest and most comfortable” metropolis in the country.

Dikshit has issued a notice to Delhi-BJP chief Vijender Gupta for referring to her as a “villain”.

Meanwhile,Gupta said: “We will win across all three corporations. These elections will be a referendum against issues of corruption and price-rise that people of the city have been dealing with in the last few years under the Congress rule.’’

BJP also hit back against Dikshit’s comments against her Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi,and the party claimed that it showed her “desperation” to win the local civic polls.

Dikshit had attacked Modi and the BJP on Friday at a public meeting in Ballimaran,saying Modi may be touted as the prime ministerial candidate for BJP,but he is not invited anywhere to campaign for it.