Delhi municipal polls: 55-58% turnout, voting peaceful

Delhiites on Sunday turned out in large numbers for the Municipal Corporation polls, the first for the trifurcated civic body, with an estimated 55 to 58% exercising their franchise in a peaceful exercise.

The fate of 2,423 candidates, vying for 272 wards of the three civic bodies -- East, South and North -- carved out of the existing Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), was sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines.

There were no reports of violence during the election for three new Corporations, seen as a semi-final ahead of next year's Assembly polls in the state.

Fifty to 58% of the 1.15 crore-strong electorate exercised their franchise but the exact turnout would be known tomorrow morning, State Election Commissioner Rakesh Mehta told a press conference here.

"Exact figures will be available tomorrow," he said.

The voting percentage could surpass 60% if there was a high turnout in the last hour, he said.

In the last elections in 2007, the voting was a dismal 42.78%.

Both Congress and BJP claimed their parties would sweep the polls.

Delhi Congress chief J P Agarwal said he was "100% confident" about his party's victory while his BJP counterpart Vijender Gupta was "certain" his camp was going to win all the three Corporations.

The counting of votes will take place on Tuesday.

New Ashok Nagar ward in East Delhi registered 65 per cent polling while Vasant Vihar 43 per cent. Last time, Mehta said, Vasant Vihar had polled less than 20 per cent votes.

He said in many polling booths voting was allowed beyond 5:30 pm to facilitate electorate, who were in the queue, to exercise their franchise.

Mehta said they had put in a lot of efforts to get people out of their houses and feel a sense of responsibility about participating in the elections.

Voters in three villages -- Sannoth, Ladpur and Khera in Kazipur -- boycotted the polls protesting what they alleged authorities' apathy towards them in providing civic amenities like proper roads and drainage.

However, Mehta said the boycott was not related to the Municipal polls.

Some people complained they were not allowed inside polling booths because they did not possess the 'letter' from the State Election Commission.

As many as 83,000 policemen kept a tight vigil across the capital as polling began at 8 AM.

Long queues were seen at some polling stations like Mahipalpur and Said-ul-Ajaib as morning walkers enthusiastically went to vote.

A large number of senior citizens and women were also seen queueing up at polling booths to cast their votes in the morning hours.

"Every body should vote. They should select the best people whichever party they belong to," said 91-year-old Ratilal Shah, a voter in Chandni Chowk, who claims he had voted in all elections since Independence.