44 per cent turnout in polls to Delhi Cantonment Board

New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) An estimated 44 per cent voter turnout was recorded today in the Delhi Cantonment Board elections, which were held after nearly 11 years.

According to the Election Office sources, the voting that began at 0800 hrs, concluded peacefully at 1700 hrs.

Counting of votes will be taken up tomorrow at 0800 hrs and the results are likely to be announced by the afternoon.

The stakes are high for both the Congress and the BJP as the outcome of this election would to some extent indicate the public opinion and the results of the Delhi Legislative Assembly polls slated later this year.

Though the agenda for the Cantonment Board elections was very localised, the two parties used the occasion to attack each other on number of issues.

As many as 71 polling stations were set up to elect eight representatives for the Board. Both the parties contested on all the seats.

The Delhi cantonment had an electorate of 61,000. A little over 15 per cent of the electorate comprised either the Army personnel or those who serve them directly.

There were 58 candidates in the fray for the eight seats.

UNI XC GL KN2037