Delhi assembly election big challenge: Poll panel chief

The upcoming Delhi assembly elections are a big "challenge" as they are the first polls to be held in 2015, Chief Election Commissioner H.S. Brahma said here Tuesday.

"Since Delhi assembly polls are the only electoral exercise taking place, the eyes of the entire world are focused on it. Delhi is the capital of India. Ruling Delhi has a separate meaning... It is a big challenge," the CEC said while addressing a gathering to launch the National Voter's Day celebrations.

Delhi will go to the polls Feb 7 and counting would take place Feb 10.

Brahma said it was the duty of voters to elect good candidates with a better vision.

The CEC said India now has 830 million voters and this number is more than the population of Europe.

Brahma said in the next five years, the number of voters is likely to touch the 850 million mark "easily".

Jan 25 is observed as National Voters Day to mark the establishment of the Election Commission in 1950.

During the six-day-long programme launched Tuesday, queries on registration and voting would be answered and electoral process explained at the mock model polling station and facilitation centre.