'Women's Participation In Politics Important': Swati Maliwal Casts Vote In Delhi Amid Tussle With AAP

Polling is underway in seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi, with people queuing up outside booths across the national capital from early morning to escape the summer heat. Among the early voters was Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.

Speaking to the reporters after casting her vote, Maliwal urged women to come out and cast their votes, saying their participation in politics is very important.

“It is a very big day for the democracy. I want to appeal to everyone, especially women to come out and cast their votes. In India, women’s participation in politics is very important,” she said.

Maliwal was allegedly assaulted by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant Bibhav Kumar at the CM’s residence on May 13.

The BJP on Friday slammed Kejriwal over the Swati Maliwal assault case and claimed that his AAP will suffer such a defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital that deposits of its candidates will be forfeited.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will lose at the hustings as people are angry over the incident, the BJP claimed.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters a day before polling in Delhi, party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the chief minister is trying his best to save Kumar.

It was at Kejriwal’s behest that his aide assaulted Maliwal, Bhatia claimed.

The seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital are polling today in the sixth round of the seven-phase general elections, and Bhatia exuded confidence that the BJP win all of these again.

The BJP has won all the seats in Delhi in the last two polls — 2014 and 2019.

Other Early Voters In Delhi

Other prominent early morning voters included Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Minister Atishi, outgoing East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir, and candidates of different parties.

President Droupadi Murmu also cast her vote in the New Delhi constituency.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a post in Hindi on X, appealed to the people to vote and urge their family members, relatives and friends to also exercise their franchise.

“…Each vote cast by you in this great festival of democracy will be against the authoritarian mindset and strengthen democracy and the Constitution of India. Go to the polling stations and assert that there is democracy in India and democracy will remain in India through your votes,” Kejriwal said.

A ‘yellow’ warning is in place for the day and the Met office has predicted that the mercury is likely to reach a maximum of 44 degrees Celsius.

The Delhi poll body has said that it is making arrangements for the voters to beat the scorching heat.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website