Delhi recorded highest voter turnout in three decades: EC

New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Over 8 million people in the national capital exercised their franchise for 2014 general election Thursday, breaking all records of the past three decades, Delhi's Election Commission chief said here Friday.

The turnout in Delhi Thursday was 65.05 percent, with the highest 67.13 percent being recorded in the Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency and the lowest in Northwest Delhi - 61.38 percent.

"Thank you Delhi for making us proud and breaking all records of three decades. The total turnout was 65.05 percent in Delhi. It broke the record of the last three decades," said chief electoral officer Vijay Dev.

He added that the voting broke the record of not only the parliamentary but assembly elections too in "absolute numbers."

As many as "82,65,000 people exercised their franchise and broke the record of the December assembly election in which 78,75,000 cast their vote", he added.

"The addition of almost four lakh voters in just three months is commendable," said Dev.

The voter turnout in Delhi assembly election in December 2013 was 66 percent.

Providing details of the constituency-wise polling, he said Chandni Chowk recorded the highest of 67.13 percent polling as compared to 55.21 percent in 2009.

East Delhi recorded 65.59 percent voting as compared to 53.44 percent in 2009, Northeast Delhi 63.08 percent over 52.39 percent, New Delhi 65.03 percent as compared to 55.83 percent, Northwest Delhi 61.38 percent as compared to 47.44 percent and West Delhi 66.03 percent as compared to 52.47 percent, and South Delhi 62.98 percent, he added.

Of the total voters, 65.75 percent were men as compared to 53.6 percent in 2009 poll while women comprised 63.64 percent of the votes as against 49.6 percent in 2009.

Confirming the high turnout of women and first time voters, Dev said the commission's advertorials and promotional campaigns encouraged the voters to come and out and vote.

A total of 150 candidates, including 57 Independents, were in the fray for the seven Lok Sabha seats from Delhi.