Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday appealed to the Delhi voters to cast their votes responsibly and said that while voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, and broken roads in the capital.

As voting for the 70 Assembly seats kicked off earlier today, Gandhi took to X and said, “Every vote you give to Congress will protect your rights, strengthen the Constitution and put Delhi back on the path of progress.”

“While voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, broken roads. Who committed the biggest scam in Delhi while talking about doing clean politics?” he added.

Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, running against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, called on Delhi residents to vote in large numbers to safeguard their rights.

As polling continues until 6 PM, the election is proving to be a tense affair, with the three major parties—AAP, BJP, and Congress—making their cases for leadership in the national capital.

Earlier in the day, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal urged Delhi voters to recognize the crucial role of their votes in determining the city’s future. He stated, “Hooliganism will lose, and Delhi will win.”

In a message shared on X, Kejriwal emphasized, “Your vote is more than just a button; it is the cornerstone of a bright future for your children. It provides an opportunity for good schools, excellent healthcare, and a dignified life for every family.” His appeal coincided with the start of voting for the Delhi assembly elections.

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

In his appeal, Kejriwal stressed the moral and political importance of the election, urging citizens to favour “truth, development, and honesty” instead of “politics of lies, hatred, and fear.” He encouraged voters not only to cast their own votes but also to motivate friends, family, and neighbours to do the same.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi joined in the call for voter engagement, characterizing the election as a struggle between good and evil. “This is a contest between hard work and hooliganism,” she stated, motivating citizens to vote for progress and “goodness.”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva also appealed to voters, asking them to support his party’s vision of a “clean, well-governed, and prosperous” Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He urged citizens to vote for the BJP’s lotus symbol, highlighting the need to bolster the “double-engine government” for Delhi’s future development.

Polling is taking place at 13,766 stations across Delhi’s 70 assembly constituencies, determining the fate of 699 candidates, with results set to be announced on February 8.

A day after President Donald Trump suggested that the United States might “take over” the Gaza Strip, potentially involving American troops, the Gaza-based Hamas militant group condemned his remarks, calling them a “recipe for creating chaos” in the Middle East.

In a statement, Hamas said, “We consider this a recipe for generating chaos and tension in the region. Our people in Gaza will not allow these plans to proceed.”

During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump outlined his vision for Gaza, stating, “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too.”

He described his plan as transforming the area into a new “Riviera,” adding, “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, levelling the area, and clearing the destroyed buildings.”

When asked if he would deploy U.S. troops to address security gaps in Gaza, Trump did not dismiss the possibility, saying, “As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that piece and develop it.”

Trump’s comments mark a striking departure from his previous stance, particularly given his rise to power in the U.S. by criticizing America’s prolonged military engagements in the Middle East and promising to redirect resources back to American citizens.

His proposal raises significant questions about the legal framework for such a move, the process of implementation, and the financial burden it would entail.

In response to Trump’s announcement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated his government’s support for a two-state solution in the Middle East. Speaking at a press briefing in Parliament House on Wednesday, Albanese stated, “Australia’s position remains consistent with what it was this morning, last year, and in previous years.

The Australian government, on a bipartisan basis, supports a two-state solution.” This statement came after Trump revealed his plans during a bilateral meeting with Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal urged Delhi voters to recognize the crucial role of their votes in determining the city’s future. He stated, “Hooliganism will lose, and Delhi will win.”

In a message shared on X, Kejriwal emphasized, “Your vote is more than just a button; it is the cornerstone of a bright future for your children. It provides an opportunity for good schools, excellent healthcare, and a dignified life for every family.” His appeal coincided with the start of voting for the Delhi assembly elections.

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

In his appeal, Kejriwal stressed the moral and political importance of the election, urging citizens to favour “truth, development, and honesty” instead of “politics of lies, hatred, and fear.” He encouraged voters not only to cast their own votes but also to motivate friends, family, and neighbours to do the same.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi joined in the call for voter engagement, characterizing the election as a struggle between good and evil. “This is a contest between hard work and hooliganism,” she stated, motivating citizens to vote for progress and “goodness.”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva also appealed to voters, asking them to support his party’s vision of a “clean, well-governed, and prosperous” Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He urged citizens to vote for the BJP’s lotus symbol, highlighting the need to bolster the “double-engine government” for Delhi’s future development.

Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, running against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, called on Delhi residents to vote in large numbers to safeguard their rights.

As polling continues until 6 PM, the election is proving to be a tense affair, with the three major parties—AAP, BJP, and Congress—making their cases for leadership in the national capital.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X to say, “Every vote for Congress will protect your rights, strengthen the Constitution, and set Delhi back on the path of progress.” He added, “While voting, remember who is accountable for polluted air, dirty water, and broken roads. Who perpetrated the biggest scam in Delhi while claiming to advocate clean politics?”

Polling is taking place at 13,766 stations across Delhi’s 70 assembly constituencies, determining the fate of 699 candidates, with results set to be announced on February 8.