Chaos as names of many voters go missing in Delhi polls
The Hindu
The turnout stood at close to 50% at 5.30 p.m.
Chaos prevailed across the city during the voting for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections with many electors being unable to find their names on the voter list, while the turnout stood at close to 50% (at 5.30 p.m.).
This was the Capital’s first civic poll since the three erstwhile municipal corporations were merged to constitute the unified MCD in May, and after the delimitation exercise, which saw a reduction of the total number of wards to 250 — from the previous number of 272 wards.
Prominent political faces, including Delhi Congress chief Ch. Anil Kumar, were among those who were unable to cast their vote, adding that their names were missing from the list.
Voting began at a snail’s pace in the early hours across various polling stations, with only 18% of the 1.45 crore voters showing up to cast their ballot till 12 p.m. The approximate turnout of 50% (till 5.30 p.m.), according to the State Election Commission, Delhi, is lesser than the 2017 civic polls final turnout of 53%.
In the run-up to the 2022 polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) embarked on a hectic campaign that was centred around the city’s three landfills, waste management and other civic issues, which, it alleged, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had ignored during its 15-year term at the civic body.
The saffron party responded with a high voltage campaign that included the fielding of its prominent faces — including BJP president J.P. Nadda — who alleged chinks in the AAP’s armour, starting with its “tall claims” of being against corruption.
The BJP turned the focus on the AAP’s jailed Minister Satyendar Jain, adding that his leaked videos showed him receiving special treatment in the jail cell.
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