At nearly 58%, turnout best in 15 yrs

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Residents of Ladpur village shout slogans outside a polling booth on Sunday. — PTI

Delhiites turned out in good numbers to vote in the municipal polls registering the highest turnout of 55 to 58 per cent in the past 15 years in a peaceful, eventless poll exercise on Sunday.
The highest voting percentage was 66 per cent in East Delhi and the lowest in South Delhi. Maximum footfall in polling booths was witnessed in Najafgarh and Chhawla while voting in Vasant Vihar was less than 20 per cent.
Fifty-five to 58 per cent of the 1.15 crore-strong electorate in the city exercised its franchise but the exact turnout would be known on Monday morning, state election commissioner Rakesh Mehta said at a media briefing here.
The voting percentage could surpass 60 per cent if there was a high turnout in the last hour, he said. In the last elections in 2007, the voting was a dismal 42.78 per cent.
“The turnout was 41 per cent in 1997 and 51 per cent in 2002,” Mr Mehta said.
The polling went off peacefully as police personnel kept a tight vigil.
Though there were minor incidents of arguments between groups of political activists in some areas, the police said no violence was reported in the city.
“There were no complaints of irregularities, including that of booth capturing or bogus voting,” Mr Mehta said while thanking Delhi police commissioner B.K. Gupta for ensuring fool-proof security.
The state election commission has made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes at 33 locations on Tuesday. The counting will begin at 8 am. Mr Mehta said results of all 272 wards are likely to be known by 3 pm on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, polling was extended till 9 pm at some booths.
The voters of Timarpur, Bazar Sitaram, Turkman Gate and Khanpur were allowed to vote till 9 pm on Sunday due to a long queues.
Meanwhile, the BJP has demanded an enquiry into the extension of timing for polling.