Interesting facts about Delhi election 2020⁠— voter turnout, gender representation, migrant voters and a lot more

• Over 1.46 crore registered voters have to pick between the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party to which the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi belongs.
• While the number of women candidates have hit a record high in Delhi, most candidates are independents.
• 99,210 litres of illicit liquor, 774 kg drugs, and 504 illegal arms and 730 ammunitions; 7458 licensed weapons were seized by the Delhi Police.

India's national capital is in election mode; it's the voting day in the all-important assembly election. Over 1.46 crore registered voters have to pick between the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, government and the challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party to which the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi belongs.

The following are some facts about that make Delhi election very interesting:

Migrants make up for over 40% of the total population in Delhi and that gives the election a unique character. One of the reasons why BJP made former Bhojpuri singing sensation Manoj Tiwari as its state campaign chief.


Similarly, Congress too tied up with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which has its home in Bihar, for the polls. While AAP has fielded candidates in all 70 seats, BJP is fighting in 67 and its Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) has two seats to fight from and Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has the remaining one.

Women representation

The percentage of women contesting the Delhi Assembly polls has reached double digits, at 11.8%, for the first time but no credit to any party as most of the women candidates are independents. There are over 81 lakh male voters, 66.80 lakh female voters, and 869 third-gender voters, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh said earlier.


Voter turnout

It will be interesting to look at the final voter turnout data today. The polling percentage has improved in the last decade but the peak was still the Parliament election in 2019, where the turnout was the highest in three decades.



More than 520 first information reports have been filed in the run up to these polls for violation of Election Commission's code of conduct.

99,210 litres of illicit liquor, 774 kg drugs, and 504 illegal arms and 730 ammunitions; 7458 licensed weapons were seized by the Delhi Police, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Sharat Kumar Sinha, ahead of election today.


The Election Commission has taken steps to ensure voters do not face any inconvenience or discomfort. Theses are the assured minimum facilities (AMF) at the polling booths of Delhi.

1. Good access road, drinking water and toilets, and adequate lighting
2. Waiting shed to relax before joining the queue
3. Separate toilets for men and women
4. Ramp facility with firm hand rails for people with disabilities
5. Toilets and parking facilities for people with disabilities
6. Height of the ballot unit to be disabled friendly
7. Adequate moving space for wheelchairs to move around the ballot unit
8. A dividing rope in the absence of separate entry and exit
9. Signage to indicate the entrance and exit

110-yrs-old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi, cast her vote today. "I've always cast my vote ever since I received my voter ID. I feel happy while casting vote. It gives me power. I wish each & every citizen casts his vote," she reportedly said.



SEE ALSO:
Delhi Elections 2020: Voting day news and highlights

Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation Programs By EC