Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Delhi records 34.37 per cent voter turnout till 1:00 pm

A voter turnout of 34.37 per cent was recorded until 1 p.m. in Delhi, where polling is underway for its seven Lok Sabha constituencies on Saturday.

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) reported that the highest turnout was in the North East Delhi constituency at 37.31 per cent, while Chandni Chowk had the lowest at 32.18 per cent.

Poll officials said there were no reports of technical snags or delays in voting commencement at any polling station.

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However, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat alleged that she had to wait nearly an hour to vote at St Columba’s School in the New Delhi constituency due to a drained battery in the EVM control unit. Karat told PTI she waited about 50 minutes. The District Election Officer, New Delhi, clarified on X that the battery was replaced within 15 minutes.

Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj also reported irregularities. Atishi claimed on X that at Captain Anuj Nayyar School in Janakpuri, the presiding officer attempted to get polling agents to sign Form 17(C) prematurely. She also alleged that an election officer in Govt School No 3, Kalkaji, directed polling agents not to note down any data.

An official at the Delhi CEO’s office said poll personnel have been instructed to check the complaints.

Prominent figures, including Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, AAP leader Atishi, and outgoing East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir, voted early in the morning. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar also voted in the New Delhi constituency.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged people on X to vote and encourage others to do the same, highlighting the importance of participation in democracy.

A ‘yellow’ weather warning is in place, with the Met office predicting temperatures up to 44 degrees Celsius. The Delhi poll body has arranged measures to help voters cope with the heat.

People were seen queuing up outside the more than 13,000 polling booths across the seven constituencies even before voting began at 7 a.m.

Jaishankar, the first voter at Atal Adarsh Vidyalaya in New Delhi, emphasized the importance of voter turnout. Puri expressed satisfaction at participating in the democratic process early.

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Atishi, who voted at Nigam Pratibha Vidyalaya, Kalkaji B Block, was among several notable early voters. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s daughter, Miraya Vadra, voting for the first time, urged everyone to participate. Her brother, Raihan Vadra, encouraged youth participation despite the heat.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M Harsha Vardhan assured that the police have made comprehensive arrangements for smooth elections, emphasizing the pride in conducting free and fair elections.

A total of 1.52 crore voters, including 2.52 lakh first-time voters, are eligible to cast their votes across more than 13,000 polling booths. The BJP, aiming for a third consecutive sweep, faces the INDIA bloc partners AAP and Congress, contesting under a four-three seat-share formula. This election marks the first time AAP and Congress have fielded joint candidates in Delhi. (With inputs from PTI)