Maujpur braves scorching heat to record 58% voting

THE VOTING STARTED AT 8AM AND CONCLUDED AT 5.30PM. THE COUNTING OF VOTES WILL TAKE PLACE ON MAY 23

Despite a slow start with just 7 per cent votes till 10 am, the by-poll at Maujpur ward of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) saw a decent turn out with 57.85 percent voters exercising their franchise.

Despite the scorching heat with temperature hovering around 45 degrees Celsius, the voting percentage in Maujpur remained four percent more than the recently concluded civic elections which saw 53.6% turn out. Sunday was the hottest day of the season, according to the temperature recorded at the Ayanagar station.

In 2012 civic polls, Maujpur had recorded 57% turn out.

A senior official of the Election commission said that this is a good number for a bypoll election as it doesn’t attract voters too much especially when the results would not impact the overall politics of the corporation.

The voting, which started at 8 AM and concluded at 5.30 PM, remained peaceful.

Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Divya Dikshit, who had come to vote outside a polling booth in Maujpur said, “The biggest problem here is of drinking water and garbage collection. There are weeks when MCD workers do not come to pick garbage.

“Water at several colonies in the locality emancipates foul smell. In last summer my children were sick due to the water quality,” she said.

“Enter any of the unauthorised colonies in the area , you will find that garbage has not been picked for months,” she said.

Elections in Maujpur and Sarai Pipal Thala wards were postponed due to death of candidates there. In Maujpur ward, Samajwadi Party candidate Naseema died resulting in the bypoll. Her daughter Shaheen is in the fray from the party.

The ward is currently held by BJP. The main contenders in the election include Suman Sharma (BJP), Rekha Sharma (Congress) and Reshma (AAP).

The bypoll in Sarai Pipal Thala ward in North Delhi Municipal Corporation(NDMC) will be held on May 21.

The election from the ward was rescheduled due to death of Samajwadi Party candidate Dinesh Singh whose son Himanshu has now been fielded by the party.

The BJP won the recent MCD elections across the three civic bodies,winning 181 of the 270 seats across the city.