The Hindu : New Delhi News : Low turnout marks MCD re-poll

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Saturday, Apr 07, 2007
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New Delhi

Low turnout marks MCD re-poll

Sandeep Joshi

High polling in rural areas, illegal colonies; low in posh colonies

NEW DELHI: An abysmal turnout of 33.68 per cent was recorded at the 10 polling booths on Friday where re-poll was ordered by the State Election Commission following reports of technical snags in electronic voting machines and sporadic incidents of violence. Polling remained by and large peaceful.

The highest poll percentage -- 48.99 per cent -- was recorded at one polling booth in Rana Pratap Bagh, while three polling booths in Nithari registered a 45 per cent voter turnout. These were followed by a polling booth in Pratap Vihar with a turnout of 24.47 per cent and five polling booths in Hastsal with 22.57 per cent.

On Thursday, residents of rural areas and unauthorised-regularised colonies came out in large number to cast their votes for the civic body elections, while those residing in posh colonies, particularly in upmarket South Delhi areas, preferred to remain indoors.

As a result, the poll percentage remained a dismal 43.23 per cent and did not cross even the 45 per cent mark registered during the MCD polls in 2002.

In many municipal wards falling in the Outer Delhi and East Delhi parliamentary constituencies, the polling was over 60 per cent. However, in many wards in the South Delhi parliamentary constituency not even 35 per cent polling was recorded. Of the 272 wards for which polling was held, 32 wards, mostly falling in rural and unauthorized-regularised colonies, recorded a voter turnout of more than 50 per cent. In 20 wards, including 15 falling in South Delhi localities, less than 35 per cent polling was recorded.

The wards where a high turnout was recorded include Chawla (73.2 per cent), Anarkali (72.24 per cent), Kheda (69.76 per cent), Bhaktawarpur (64.30 per cent), Mundka (61.67 per cent), Bhati (61.55 per cent) and Kapeshera (61.53 per cent).

While the wards where lowest polling took place were Pushp Vihar (24 per cent), Vasant Kunj (25.23 per cent), Nanakpura (27.18 per cent), Andrews Ganj (27.65 per cent), Vasant Vihar (27.97 per cent), Pratap Vihar (28.42 per cent) and Greater Kailash-I (29.75 per cen t).

Of the 99.60-lakh voters, over 43-lakh electorates exercised their franchise. Male voters cast more votes compared with their female counterparts. Over 24.75-lakh men cast their votes against 18.32-lakh women.

Counting of votes will take place on Saturday at 17 centres across the Capital. The first trends will be available within an hour after counting begins at 8 a.m. The entire counting process is likely to be completed by noon, thanks to the use of electronic voting machines that makes counting easier and faster compared with ballot papers.

In another related development, the Delhi State Election Commission has served show-cause notices to Delhi Congress chief Ram Babu Sharma, Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely and outgoing Leader of the Opposition in MCD Subhash Arya for violating its guidelines and entering their respective polling booths with their supporters and carrying their mobiles along.

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