Delhi Elections 2020: Despite Weekend, Capital Records Just 57% Turnout; Huge Drop Compared To 2015

Over 1.47 crore people were eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls that has now decided the fate of 672 candidates in 70 assembly constituencies which saw a triangular contest among the ruling AAP, BJP and the Congress.

Voters stand in a queue to cast votes during the Delhi Assembly election at a polling station in Shaheen Bagh, New DelhiVoters stand in a queue to cast votes during the Delhi Assembly election at a polling station in Shaheen Bagh, New Delhi. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The national capital of India recorded a voter turnout of 57.06 per cent till 6 pm, even as polling at some booths was underway and the figure is likely to rise, Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said on Saturday. Polling officially ended at 6 pm. But voters, who enter polling stations till 6 pm, are allowed to cast their vote adding that there were long queues at many polling booths. However, three minority-dominated seats of Mustafabad, Matia Mahal and Seelampur recorded the highest voter turnout in the Assembly elections in the national capital on Saturday. According to the data shared by the officials, Mustafabad in northeast Delhi recorded 66.29 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm. Matia Mahal in old Delhi, the area that saw anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests, recorded a voter turnout of 65.62 per cent. Seelampur, another minority seat in northeast Delhi, recorded 64.92 per cent voting. The seat had also seen anti-CAA protests in December. Till 5 pm, the national capital recorded a voter turnout of 57.87 per cent. The polling was smooth and police maintained a strict vigil in sensitive areas including Jamia and Shaheen Bagh which have been on alert due to the ongoing protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Delhi Police personnel, along with paramilitary force, conducted flag marches in other sensitive areas of northeast Delhi, Shahdara and east Delhi. Over 1.47 crore people were eligible to exercise their franchise in the polls that has now decided the fate of 672 candidates in 70 assembly constituencies which saw a triangular contest among the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. Poll officials said 41.5 per cent votes were cast till 3 pm. The city recorded 14.75 per cent voter turnout in the first three hours of polling which began at 8 am. Polling is scheduled to end at 6 pm. In the 2015 assembly elections, the national capital had recorded a voter turnout of 67.08 per cent. Of the 11 districts, northeast recorded highest 50.75 per cent of voting, while New Delhi recorded 40.63 per cent, the lowest. There were long queues outside some polling booths in areas dominated by minorities such as Jaffrabad, Shaheen Bagh, Seelampur and Jamia Nagar. According to reports, there were some complaints related to VVPAT slips. Congress's New Delhi candidate Romesh Sabharwal said VVAPT slips did not show his name and photo. President Ram Nath Kovind, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also exercised their franchise. Union Ministers S Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh Puri were also among those who cast their votes. Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal voted at the Rajpur Transport Authority polling station in the Civil Lines area. Kejriwal, who is contesting the polls from the New Delhi constituency, was accompanied by his wife Sunita and son Pulkit. Before leaving for voting, he sought his parents blessings. Former vice president Hamid Ansari and senior RSS functionary Ram Lal were among those who queued up outside the Nirman Bhavan polling station in the first hour of voting. Minutes before polling began, Kejriwal tweeted, "Please go to cast vote. A special appeal to all the women - as you shoulder the responsibility at home, likewise, the responsibility of the country and Delhi is on your shoulders." Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who led a very aggressive campaign and covered 60 assembly seats, appealed to voters to "free" the national capital from lies and vote-bank politics. "By giving Delhi clean air, clean drinking water and every poor house, only the best capital of the world can make it a government with far-sighted thinking and strong intentions," he said on Twitter. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son Rehan and Kejriwal's son Pulkit were among first-time voters. Pulkit said he felt good after voting for the first time. Talking to reporters, Rehan said the public transport should be more affordable for students.