Delhi registers record 65.86 percent voting

Delhi shattered previous records as it registered 65.86 percent voting in Wednesday's assembly elections, an Election Commission official said Thursday.

"Delhi recorded 65.86 polling percent. Voting continued till 8 p.m. Wednesday," the official told IANS.

Officially voting ends at 5 p.m., but seeing the surging enthusiastic crowds at many polling stations, the state election commission extended the voting time. The Matia Mahal polling station was the last to close at 8 p.m.

It is for the first time that Delhi has witnessed such an overwhelming response in elections to its assembly.

In the first elections to its re-cast assembly in 1993, Delhi witnessed a turnout of 61.75 percent. In 1998, Delhi recorded the lowest turnout at just over 48 percent voting.

In the 2003 elections, over 53 percent voters cast their ballots, and in 2008, over 57 percent polling was recorded.

As a small, Part C state in 1951, Delhi had an assembly, which was abolished in 1956, and succeeded by a Metropolitan Council in 1966. The 56-member council with five nominated members had no legislative powers.