Rajinder Nagar bypoll: Over 40 pc turnout recorded till 5 pm, hour before closing time

Over 40 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm on Thursday in the Rajinder Nagar assembly constituency bypoll in Delhi, officials said.Polling began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements, and the scheduled closing time was 6 pm, but those already in queue were being allowed to vote, a senior poll official said.Voting has closed at many polling stations.

Over 40 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm on Thursday in the Rajinder Nagar assembly constituency bypoll in Delhi, officials said.

Polling began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements, and the scheduled closing time was 6 pm, but those already in queue were being allowed to vote, a senior poll official said.

''Voting has closed at many polling stations. At some polling stations, voters who had queued up in time are awaiting their turn. At other stations, Covid-positive voters are exercising their franchise,'' the official said.

A total of 1,64,698 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the bye-election, in which 14 candidates are in the fray. Water shortage and the city government's liquor policy are among the key election issues.

The two major contenders -- the AAP and the BJP -- have exuded confidence that their candidates will emerge victorious in the bypoll with a huge margin.

The voting percentage till 5 pm stood at 40.65 per cent, the official said. In the 2020 polls, the voter turnout in Rajinder Nagar was 58.27 per cent -- 58.09 per cent male voters and 58.5 per cent female voters.

In addition to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress candidates, there are three others from unrecognised parties and eight Independent nominees.

A total of 190 polling stations, including 13 auxiliary ones, have been set up at 21 locations, equipped with all necessary facilities and amenities for differently-abled people too such as ramps and drinking water, besides creches for mothers if they come to vote with their children.

Of the total number of eligible voters for the bypoll, 92,221 are male, 72,473 female and four belong to the third gender.

There are 591 electors, who are persons with disability, 39 voters are visually impaired, 64 are service voters, and 2,486 voters who are in the age group of 80 and above.