New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, President Ram Nath Kovind and Bollywood star Taapsee Pannu were among the early voters Saturday as the assembly election got underway in national capital Delhi.
दिल्ली: राष्ट्रपति राम नाथ कोविंद ने अपनी पत्नी सविता कोविंद के साथ राष्ट्रपति भवन के डॉ.राजेंद्र प्रसाद केंद्रीय विद्यालय में अपना वोट डाला। #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/DkeBfJxE4o
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) February 8, 2020
Contesting from the New Delhi assembly constituency, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Kejriwal cast his vote along with his family. He subsequently tweeted an image where he and his family were seen showing off their inked fingers. Accompanying the image was a plea for young voters to exercise their franchise.
Voted along with my family, including my first-time voter son. Urge all young voters to come out to vote. Your participation strengthens democracy. pic.twitter.com/QU8wUZ18hv
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 8, 2020
Also spotted among the early voters were senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leaves after casting his vote at a polling booth on Aurangzeb lane. #DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/BXvZcEu5VG
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2020
Speaking to reporters outside her polling booth, where voting was reportedly slow to pick up, Priyanka urged people to cast their votes. “Don’t be lazy, come out and vote,” she said.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir, who represents East Delhi in the Lok Sabha, were among other high-profile voters.
दिल्ली: पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह अपनी पत्नी गुरशरण सिंह के संग नई दिल्ली विधानसभा क्षेत्र के निर्माण भवन में अपना वोट डाला।#DelhiElections2020 pic.twitter.com/xrnkSWUBFm
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) February 8, 2020
Got inked with my entire family! Did you? pic.twitter.com/dTZ8BVVws8
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 8, 2020
There was a touch of Bollywood star power too as actor Taapsee Pannu, a Delhi native, turned up for voting with her family. She also shared a photo on Twitter, with a message urging others to go out and vote.
‘Pannu Parivaar’ has voted.
Have you ?#VoteDelhi #EveryVoteCounts pic.twitter.com/LdynINfI0P
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) February 8, 2020
According to the Election Commission of India, the voter turnout in the national capital as of 1 pm was a dismal 26.36 per cent. In the last election in 2015, Delhi recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 67 per cent.
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Getting people to vote
Seeking active voter participation in Delhi elections, the Election Commission launched a campaign called ‘Dilli ke dabang’.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to cast their vote, asking them to celebrate the “festival of democracy”.
दिल्ली विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए आज मतदान का दिन है। सभी मतदाताओं से मेरी अपील है कि वे अधिक से अधिक संख्या में लोकतंत्र के इस महोत्सव में भाग लें और वोटिंग का नया रिकॉर्ड बनाएं।
Urging the people of Delhi, especially my young friends, to vote in record numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2020
Modi was among the star campaigners for the BJP in a bitterly fought campaign between his party and AAP, with the Congress remaining on the sidelines.
The counting for votes will take place on 11 February.
Also read: Voting begins in Delhi amid tight security, 672 candidates in fray for 70 seats