Delhi civic polls: Highest polling percentage in 15 yrs recorded

Final voter turnout in the Delhi municipal polls was recorded at an "impressive" 55%, the highest polling percentage in the capital for the civic polls in the last 15 years.

The turnout described as "impressive" by State Election Commission (SEC), however, did not surpass the anticipated 60%. The counting will take place on Tuesday which will decide the electoral fate of 2,423 candidates.

According to the SEC, 55% of the 1.15 crore strong electorate voted in the polls held yesterday for the 272 wards of the three civic bodies — East, South and North.

East Delhi Corporation has recorded the highest polling percentage at 57% followed by North (55) and South (53).

On Sunday, State Election Commissioner Rakesh Mehta had said that 55-58% voters exercised their franchise and it could go beyond 60%.

In 1997, the polling percentage was 41%, 51% in 2002 and 42.78% in 2007.

Around 63.25 lakh voters had exercised their franchise this time as compared to 42.35 lakh out of a total of around 99 lakh in 2007.

About 20.9 lakh more voters have exercised their franchise this time as compared to that in 2007. The increase in total number of voters this time as compared to 2007 was 16 lakh.

The rise in polling percentage could be attributed to the relentless campaign undertaken by the SEC.

Delhi State Election Commission had make several efforts, including a 'Be Dabangg, Be a voter' campaign as part of its campaign to exhort voters to turn out in large numbers.

The campaign has taken its cue from blockbuster Bollywood movie Dabangg (a bold character), in which Salman Khan essayed the role of police inspector Chulbul Pandey.