Highest ever voting in peaceful Delhi civic polls

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) An estimated 55 to 60 percent voting - the highest ever - took place in the elections to the trifurcated Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Sunday, which were peaceful and saw the highest turnout in east Delhi, State Election Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said.

"People have voted with a lot of enthusiasm and the turnout has been impressive this time. There is a strong possibility of the voting percentage crossing 60 percent," said Mehta.

"The elections were very peaceful and there was no law and order issue. All the arrangements were in place... no re-polling will be taking place," he added.

As per Mehta, the highest voter turnout prior to 2012 was 51 percent in 1997.

"If all goes well this will be the record highest voter turnout in MCD elections," Mehta told IANS adding that the highest percentage of votes polled was in east followed by north and the least in south Delhi.

There were some issues with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in around eight to 10 areas like Majnu Ka Tilla, Model Town, Gokalpur in north Delhi, Kishan Ganj in central Delhi, Mandaoli in east Delhi, Sarita Vihar in south Delhi and Mangolpuri in west Delhi which were later rectified.

According to Mehta, the voting was slated to end at 5.30 p.m. but in many areas people turned up by after four in the afternoon to avoid the heat. Thus due to the long queues the commission was forced to allow the people to cast their vote beyond the scheduled time.

In two places, voters boycotted the elections - Ladpur in west Delhi and Sanoth in north Delhi - but the boycott was not related to the MCD and due to personal grievances, said Mehta.

In Ladpur the people were unhappy because the hearings on the consolidation of their lands had not taken place whereas in Sanoth the news of MCD building a waste management treatment plant miffed the voters.

The commissioner further said that counting of votes will take place from 8 a.m. Tuesday and was expected to get over by by 3 p.m. Most of the results are expected to be out by afternoon.