Front Page

Delhi polls by and large peaceful

NEW DELHI: Delhiites turned out in large numbers to vote for the 70-member Assembly on Saturday. Chief Electoral Officer Satbir Silas Bedi has put the turnout at over 60 per cent.

The increase in the turnout is significant as in the elections to the Delhi Municipal Corporation in 2007 only 43 per cent people had cast their votes. In the last Assembly elections too only 53 per cent voting had been registered.

Among those who turned out to vote early in the morning in the VVIP New Delhi parliamentary constituency were Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her children Rahul and Priyanka, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and BJP’s chief ministerial candidate V.K. Malhotra.

Despite there being one booth for every 963 voters on an average, there was no large percentage of electors by the time of closure at 5 p.m. Hence, in at least two places — Keshopur in West Delhi and Bhati Mines in South Delhi — the voting continued till past 7 p.m.

Dr. Bedi said the polling was by and large very peaceful and only four FIRs were registered at Mandir Marg, Sangam Vihar, Khyala and Mehrauli. Two persons were arrested for poll-related offences and a few Bahujan Samaj Party workers had suffered injuries in Sangam Vihar.

Dr. Bedi said it was up to the media to decide whether “Pappu can’t vote” campaign had made an impact on the young voters. Also, the pattern of high turnout was not restricted to the rural areas alone, in the urban centres too a large number of people had exercised their franchise.

Dr. Bedi said that as per the available trends, the highest turnout was around 63 per cent in the South West District and the lowest was around 55 per cent in South East District. Also, the voting percentage grew sharply as the day progressed. While 22 per cent votes had been cast in the first four hours by 12 noon, the percentage went up sharply to 38 by 2 p.m. and nearly 55 by 4 p.m.

Nearly 105.8 lakh people were eligible for exercising their franchise in 69 of the 70 segments that went to the polls. The results would be announced on December 8. Election in Rajendra Nagar had been postponed due to the death of the sitting MLA and BJP candidate Puran Chand Yogi and would now be held on December 13. The result of this election would be announced on December 15.

The elections this time were keenly fought as the Sheila Dikshit government wanted a record third term in Delhi. The BJP had fielded Mr. Malhotra from Greater Kailash. The BSP is also contesting in 69 seats.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu