Delhi shook off all apathy as people showed remarkable enthusiasm to cast their vote and record a stunning turnout of over 67% which, experts said, was likely to be revised close to 70%.
Almost 1.73 lakh voters had queued up in booths in 37 constituencies past 5 pm, forcing the Election Commission to first extend the deadline to 7.30 pm, then 8 pm, and finally to 8.15 pm. The highest turnout of over 72% was in Seemapuri.
The high turnout was being interpreted as a vote for change. But in whose favour, it wasn’t at all clear.
Old timers scratched their heads to recall when the city had last shown such enthusiasm, which, said the EC, was largely due to young voters (3.4% voters in Delhi are aged 18-19, in other words, firsttime voters). Some recalled the 1977 Lok Sabha vote in which Delhi, along with all of north India, had voted out Indira Gandhi after Emergency.
There were long lines across the city, even in upscale south Delhi localities which usually see low turnouts.
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