Exit polls predict massive BJP victory in MCD elections: As it happened

Delhi: Voting began on Sunday morning for the Delhi municipal polls to 272 wards in which the ruling BJP is locked in a triangular battle with the Congress and the AAP.

Both the BJP and the Congress have exuded confidence about winning the electoral battle while the AAP is seeking to replicate its 2015 Assembly elections performance, despite suffering a debacle in the Rajouri Garden bypoll.

Polling began at 8 am amid tight security arrangements across the city.

For the first time in MCD elections, None Of The Above (NOTA) option has been made available.

The BJP is seeking to retain the turf which it has held for the last 10 years and fielded all fresh faces from 267 wards. The party has projected for itself a tally of over 200 out of the 272 seats.

The AAP and the Congress too have claimed that they will cross the 200-mark.

The erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was trifurcated in 2012 into North, South and East Municipal Corporations.

23 April 2017

18:38 IST

The turnout by 4 PM was around 45 percent and we are very hopeful that the final tally will be beyond 54 percent, the voting percentage in the 2012 civic body polls in Delhi, says State Election Commissioner SK Srivastava.

18:37 IST

Overall BJP to win 202-220 seats, AAP 23 to 35, Congress 19 to 31 and others 2-8 as per Axis India Today MCD exit poll.